Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common and lethal type of primary liver cancer, frequently arising from chronic liver injury and inflammation. Despite treatment advancements, HCC prognosis remains poor, emphasizing the need for effective preventive and therapeutic strategies. This study investigates the hepatoprotective and anti-tumor effects of Hongjam, a steamed freeze-dried silkworm powder, in a diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and thioacetamide (TAA)-induced HCC mouse model. Mice were administered DEN intraperitoneally for 8 weeks, followed by TAA in drinking water for 9 weeks, with Hongjam supplementation (0.01, 0.1, and 1 g/kg) provided daily through food. Hongjam markedly reduced the tumor incidence, the size, and the histological lesions compared to the DEN/TAA group. Serum biochemical analysis revealed reduction in liver damage markers, including alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin, with a notable decrease in total bilirubin surpassing. Immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses demonstrated that Hongjam downregulated expression of proliferation markers, including Ki67, phosphorylation of protein kinase B, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, while upregulating the pro-apoptotic protein Bcl-2-associated X protein, indicating its dual role in suppressing proliferation and promoting apoptosis. Furthermore, Hongjam inhibited angiogenesis by suppressing the expression of key markers, including interleukin 6, VEGF, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 subunit alpha, platelet-derived growth factor subunit beta, matrix metalloproteinase-2, and cluster of differentiation 31, thereby disrupting the tumor microenvironment. These findings suggest that Hongjam exerts multifaceted protective effects against HCC by targeting proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis pathways, while also mitigating liver damage. This study highlights the potential of Hongjam as a functional food or a complementary therapeutic agent for HCC prevention and management.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common and lethal type of primary liver cancer, frequently arising from chronic liver injury and inflammation. Despite treatment advancements, HCC prognosis remains poor, emphasizing the need for effective preventive and therapeutic strategies. This study investigates the hepatoprotective and anti-tumor effects of Hongjam, a steamed freeze-dried silkworm powder, in a diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and thioacetamide (TAA)-induced HCC mouse model. Mice were administered DEN intraperitoneally for 8 weeks, followed by TAA in drinking water for 9 weeks, with Hongjam supplementation (0.01, 0.1, and 1 g/kg) provided daily through food. Hongjam markedly reduced the tumor incidence, the size, and the histological lesions compared to the DEN/TAA group. Serum biochemical analysis revealed reduction in liver damage markers, including alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin, with a notable decrease in total bilirubin surpassing. Immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses demonstrated that Hongjam downregulated expression of proliferation markers, including Ki67, phosphorylation of protein kinase B, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, while upregulating the pro-apoptotic protein Bcl-2-associated X protein, indicating its dual role in suppressing proliferation and promoting apoptosis. Furthermore, Hongjam inhibited angiogenesis by suppressing the expression of key markers, including interleukin 6, VEGF, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 subunit alpha, platelet-derived growth factor subunit beta, matrix metalloproteinase-2, and cluster of differentiation 31, thereby disrupting the tumor microenvironment. These findings suggest that Hongjam exerts multifaceted protective effects against HCC by targeting proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis pathways, while also mitigating liver damage. This study highlights the potential of Hongjam as a functional food or a complementary therapeutic agent for HCC prevention and management.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common and lethal type of primary liver cancer, frequently arising from chronic liver injury and inflammation. Despite treatment advancements, HCC prognosis remains poor, emphasizing the need for effective preventive and therapeutic strategies. This study investigates the hepatoprotective and anti-tumor effects of Hongjam, a steamed freeze-dried silkworm powder, in a diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and thioacetamide (TAA)-induced HCC mouse model. Mice were administered DEN intraperitoneally for 8 weeks, followed by TAA in drinking water for 9 weeks, with Hongjam supplementation (0.01, 0.1, and 1 g/kg) provided daily through food. Hongjam markedly reduced the tumor incidence, the size, and the histological lesions compared to the DEN/TAA group. Serum biochemical analysis revealed reduction in liver damage markers, including alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin, with a notable decrease in total bilirubin surpassing. Immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses demonstrated that Hongjam downregulated expression of proliferation markers, including Ki67, phosphorylation of protein kinase B, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, while upregulating the pro-apoptotic protein Bcl-2-associated X protein, indicating its dual role in suppressing proliferation and promoting apoptosis. Furthermore, Hongjam inhibited angiogenesis by suppressing the expression of key markers, including interleukin 6, VEGF, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 subunit alpha, platelet-derived growth factor subunit beta, matrix metalloproteinase-2, and cluster of differentiation 31, thereby disrupting the tumor microenvironment. These findings suggest that Hongjam exerts multifaceted protective effects against HCC by targeting proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis pathways, while also mitigating liver damage. This study highlights the potential of Hongjam as a functional food or a complementary therapeutic agent for HCC prevention and management.

PURPOSE: The tight junction protein claudin-5 (CLDN5) is critical to the control of endothelial cellular polarity and pericellular permeability. The role of CLDN5 in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between CLDN5 levels and clinical variables in patients with COPD. METHODS: In total, 30 patients with COPD and 30 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The plasma CLDN5 level was checked in patients with stable or exacerbated COPD and in healthy controls. RESULTS: The mean plasma CLDN5 level of patients with COPD was 0.63 ± 0.05 ng/mL and that of healthy controls was 6.9 ± 0.78 ng/mL (P = 0.001). The mean plasma CLDN5 level was 0.71 ± 0.05 ng/mL in exacerbated COPD patients and 0.63 ± 0.04 ng/mL in patients with stable COPD (P < 0.05). The plasma CLDN5 level among COPD subjects was correlated with the smoking amount (r = −0.530, P = 0.001). The plasma CLDN5 level in stable COPD patients was correlated with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1, %pred.) (r = −0.481, P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: The plasma CLDN5 level was not correlated with age. CLDN5 may be involved in the pathogenesis of COPD. Further studies having a larger sample size will be needed to clarify CLDN5 in COPD.
Claudin-5* ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Permeability ; Plasma ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Sample Size ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tight Junctions*

PURPOSE: The objective of the present article is to determine whether there are differences in vertical enlargement ratio among various sites within both jaws in a panoramic radiograph. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and seventy-threeimplant sites in panoramic radiographs were evaluated by two observers. Magnification ratios at various sites in both jaws were calculated and compared with each other. RESULT: The average vertical enlargement ratio in the panoramic radiograph was 1.264 and this value was larger than original ratio 1.250. Although vertical magnification ratio of maxillary molar area was higher than that of mandibular molar area, every group showed similar magnification ratio in clinical respect. CONCLUSION: Vertical magnification ratio of the maxillary molar area is statistically higher than that of the mandibular molar area in the panoramic radiograph, but it is clinically negligible.
Dental Implants ; Jaw ; Molar ; Radiographic Magnification ; Radiography

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with evidence of immune activation and is associated with extraintestinal diseases in numerous target tissues. Extraintestinal manifestations of UC are well described in numerous tissues, most notably mucotaneous, synovial, biliary, and opthalmic. Among hematological complications of UC, autoimmune hemolytic anemia is often reported, but immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP) is rare. We present one case in which exacerbation of UC sequentially induced development of ITP. Platelet-associated antibodies were positive. Bone marrow examinations revealed increased megakaryocyte number. ITP was treated with corticosteroids, intravenous immune gamma- globulin and plasmapheresis. However, because previous treatments were not successful, splenectomy was done. This may provide further evidence that ITP is causally associated with UC, and is the result of immunostimulation from luminal antigens and altered immunoregulation.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; Antibodies ; Bone Marrow Examination ; Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Humans ; Immunization ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Megakaryocytes ; Phenobarbital ; Plasmapheresis ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic* ; Splenectomy ; Thrombocytopenia ; Ulcer*

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an autosomal dominantly inherited disorder due to germline mutation of the tumor suppressor adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene. Multiple large bowel polyps usually develop in adolescence or early adulthood with inevitable progression to colorectal carcinoma. It is well known that patients with FAP are at considerable risk of developing extracolonic manisfestations of the disease. Particularly, desmoid tumors of the abdominal cavity, and duodenal adenomas and carcinomas are the most serious ones. Desmoid tumors and duodenal carcinomas are major causes of death in those patients in whom a prophylactic (procto) colectomy has been performed. We report the case of a 38-year-old man with desmoid tumor and duodenal adenoma developing after total colectomy with ileostomy due to FAP, and literatures were reviewed.
Abdominal Cavity ; Adenoma* ; Adenomatous Polyposis Coli* ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Cause of Death ; Colectomy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive* ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Humans ; Ileostomy ; Polyps

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: In patients with obstructive jaundice due to malignant biliary tract stricture, a tissue diagnosis is essential because the various treatment options are available. The tissue biopsy from the biliary tree is difficult because of the focal, sclerotic, small annular nature and lower celluarity. Brush cytology is an effective method for obtaining a tissue from bile duct stricture, and the diagnostic sensitivity of endoscopic brush cytology is reported as between 40% and 70% from malignant bile duct strictures. In this study, we analyzed the diagnostic value of endoscopic brush cytology in patient with extrahepatic bile duct strictures. METHODS: The eight patients with extrahepatic bile duct strictures diagnosed with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography underwent endoscopic brush cytology and aspiration bile cytology. Brushing were taken using a Greenen cytology brush passed with a guide wire through the stricture. RESULTS: The final diagnoses were made by surgical pathology and clinical follow-up. The sensitivity of brush cytology (62.5%, 5/8) was significantly higher than the sensitivity of bile cytology (0%; 0/8). No procedure related complication occured. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic brush cytology would be an effective and a relatively safe method for tissue diagnosis in patients with malignant biliary obstruction.
Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Biliary Tract ; Biopsy ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Pathology, Surgical

A 26-year-old man with intermittent lower, abdominal, cramping pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea was found to have intussusception by computed tomography. Whole emergency laparotomy was performed, intus-susception reduced spontaneously. Postoperately, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) was diagnosed by colonoscopy and barium enema. Innumerous polyps were found in the entire colon and one of these was presumed to have caused sigmoid invagination. If is believed that FAP is quite a rare cause of colonic intus-susception. This case of a 26-year-old man with an intussusception of the colon due to FAP is herein reported. It is important that surgeons and internists are aware of this rare cause of intussusception due to FAP because of the therapeutic implications.
Adenomatous Polyposis Coli* ; Adult ; Barium ; Colon* ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colonoscopy ; Diarrhea ; Emergencies ; Enema ; Humans ; Intussusception* ; Laparotomy ; Muscle Cramp ; Nausea ; Polyps ; Vomiting

The purpose of this study is to compare the osteogenic activity of pBMP combined with the following, freeze-dried allogeneic bone, surface demineralized allogeneic bone, and demineralized allogenic bone powder in rats. So, authors made partial purification of the pBMP. Using rat calvaria, an 8mm size in diameter boney defect was grafted using pBMP-ibm in the experimental group A as the control group, freezed dried allogeneic bone graft plus pBMP-ibm in the experimental group B, surface demineralized allogeneic bone graft plus pBMP-ibm in the experimental group C, and demineralized allogeneic bone powder plus pBMP-ibm in the experimental group D, respectively. The rats were sacrificed at the week of 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th after implantation and examined grossly, biochemically, biomechanically, microscopically. The results were as follows 1. Ares of Implanted defect acquired osseous union at post op 4th week. 2. According to the result of hardness test, the experimental group B was most rigid than any other experimental groups at post op. 4th week. And the experimental group B, C and D were more rigid than the experimental group A at post op. 8th week. 3. As time goes on, calcium content of implanted area has increased gradually in all experimental groups except the experimental group B. 4. In the early stage of grafting, the new cartilage formation & new bone formation were more active in the experimental group B, C and D than in the experimental group A, but in the late stage of grafting, there was no significant difference in the new bone formation among the experimental groups. 5. New cartilage and new bone formation occurred as follow, first in the experimental group D, then the experimental group C, the experimental group B, the experimental group A, respectively.
Animals ; Calcium ; Cartilage ; Hardness Tests ; Osteogenesis ; Rats* ; Skull ; Transplants