Recent evidence suggests that gastric mucosal injury induces adaptive changes in DNA methylation. In this study, the methylation status of the key tissue-specific genes in normal gastric mucosa of healthy individuals and cancer patients was evaluated. The methylation-variable sites of 14 genes, including ulcer-healing genes (TFF1, TFF2, CDH1, and PPARG), were chosen from the CpG-island margins or non-island CpGs near the transcription start sites. The healthy individuals as well as the normal gastric mucosa of 23 ulcer, 21 non-invasive cancer, and 53 cancer patients were examined by semiquantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The ulcer-healing genes were concurrently methylated with other genes depending on the presence or absence of CpG-islands in the normal mucosa of healthy individuals. Both the TFF2 and PPARG genes were frequently undermethylated in ulcer patients. The over- or intermediate-methylated TFF2 and undermethylated PPARG genes was more common in stage-1 cancer patients (71%) than in healthy individuals (10%; odds ratio [OR], 21.9) and non-invasive cancer patients (21%; OR, 8.9). The TFF2-PPARG methylation pattern of cancer patients was stronger in the older-age group (> or =55 yr; OR, 43.6). These results suggest that the combined methylation pattern of ulcer-healing genes serves as a sensitive marker for predicting cancer-prone gastric mucosa.
Biological Markers/metabolism ; Cadherins/genetics ; CpG Islands ; *DNA Methylation ; Female ; *Gastric Mucosa/pathology/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Growth Substances/genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; PPAR gamma/genetics ; Peptides/genetics ; *Stomach Neoplasms/genetics/pathology ; *Stomach Ulcer/genetics/pathology ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins/genetics ; Wound Healing/*genetics

PURPOSE: Treatment for malignant colonic obstruction consists of a multiple-staged emergency operation. In recent years, some authors have reported low morbidity and mortality rates using self-expandable metallic stents. This study is designed to evaluate the usefulness of self-expandable metallic stents in patients with malignant colonic obstruction. METHODS: The records of 38 patients who had undergone surgery for malignant colonic obstruction at our institution between January 2004 and August 2006 were reviewed retrospectively. Seventeen patients were treated with elective surgery after stent insertion, bowel decompression, and bowel preparation (stent group), and 21 patients were treated with emergency surgery without stent insertion (control group). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, sex, tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, or cancer position between the two groups (elective operation after stent insertion vs. emergency operation). Of the 17 patients who underwent elective operation after stent insertion, primary anastomosis was possible in 15 (88.2 vs. 57.1% in the control group), with a lower need for a colostomy (11.8 vs. 42.9% in the control group, P=0.036). Also, the number of patients with severe complications (17.6 vs. 47.6% in the control group, P=0.048) and the hospital stay (10.82 vs. 13.43 days in the control group, P=0.032) were significantly lower in the study group. CONCLUSION: Placement of a self-expandable metallic stent for malignant colonic obstruction is a safe and effective procedure. It can reduce the colostomy, mortality, and morbidity rates and the hospital fee for treatment.
Colon ; Colostomy ; Decompression ; Emergencies ; Fees and Charges ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents

CpG-island margins and non-island-CpG sites round the transcription start sites of CpG-island-positive and -negative genes are methylated to various degrees in a tissue-specific manner. These methylation-variable CpG sites were analyzed to delineate a relationship between the methylation and transcription of the tissue-specific genes. The level of tissue-specific transcription was estimated by counting the number of the total transcripts in the SAGE (serial analysis of gene expression) database. The methylation status of 12 CpG-island margins and 21 non-island CpG sites near the key tissue-specific genes was examined in pluripotent stromal cells obtained from fat and bone marrow samples as well as in lineage-committed cells from marrow bulk, stomach, colon, breast, and thyroid samples. Of the 33 CpG sites examined, 10 non-island-CpG sites, but none of the CpG-island margins were undermethylated concurrent with tissue-specific expression of their nearby genes. The net methylation of the 33 CpG sites and the net amount of non-island-CpG gene transcripts were high in stomach tissues and low in stromal cells. The present findings suggest that the methylation of the non-island-CpG sites is inversely associated with the expression of the nearby genes, and the concert effect of transitional-CpG methylation is linearly associated with the stomach-specific genes lacking CpG-islands.
Adipose Tissue/cytology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Adult Stem Cells/cytology/*metabolism ; Aged ; CpG Islands/*genetics ; *DNA Methylation ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stomach/cytology/*metabolism ; Stromal Cells/metabolism ; Transcription Initiation Site ; Transcription, Genetic

Transitional-CpG methylation between unmethylated promoters and nearby methylated retroelements plays a role in the establishment of tissue-specific transcription. This study examined whether chromosomal losses reducing the active genes in cancers can change transitional-CpG methylation and the transcription activity in a cancer-type-dependent manner. The transitional-CpG sites at the CpG-island margins of nine genes and the non-island-CpG sites round the transcription start sites of six genes lacking CpG islands were examined by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The number of active genes in normal and cancerous tissues of the stomach, colon, breast, and nasopharynx were analyzed using the public data in silico. The CpG-island margins and non-island CpG sites tended to be hypermethylated and hypomethylated in all cancer types, respectively. The CpG-island margins were hypermethylated and a low number of genes were active in the normal stomach compared with other normal tissues. In gastric cancers, the CpG-island margins and non-island-CpG sites were hypomethylated in association with high-level chromosomal losses, and the number of active genes increased. Colon, breast, and nasopharyngeal cancers showed no significant association between the chromosomal losses and methylation changes. These findings suggest that chromosomal losses in gastric cancers are associated with the hypomethylation of the gene-control regions and the increased number of active genes.
Alu Elements/genetics ; *Chromosome Deletion ; CpG Islands/*genetics ; *DNA Methylation ; DNA, Neoplasm/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Genes, Neoplasm ; Humans ; Long Interspersed Nucleotide Elements/genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Stomach Neoplasms/*genetics

The extent of unilateral chromosomal losses and the presence of microsatellite instability (MSI) have been classified into high-risk (high- and baseline-level loss) and low-risk (low-level loss and MSI) stem-line genotypes in gastric carcinomas. A unilateral genome-dosage reduction might stimulate compensation mechanism, which maintains the genomic dosage via CpG hypomethylation. A total of 120 tumor sites from 40 gastric carcinomas were examined by chromosomal loss analysis using 40 microsatellite markers on 8 chromosomes and methylation analysis in the 13 CpG (island/non-island) regions near the 10 genes using the bisulfite-modified DNAs. The high-level-loss tumor (four or more losses) showed a tendency toward unmethylation in the Maspin, CAGE, MAGE-A2 and RABGEF1 genes, and the other microsatellite-genotype (three or fewer losses and MSI) toward methylation in the p16, hMLH1, RASSF1A, and Cyclin D2 genes (p<0.05). The non-island CpGs of the p16 and hMLH1 genes were hypomethylated in the high-level-loss and hypermethylated in the non-high-level-loss sites (p<0.05). Consequently, hypomethylation changes were related to a high-level loss, whereas the hypermethylation changes were accompanied by a baseline-level loss, a low-level loss, or a MSI. This indicates that hypomethylation compensates the chromosomal losses in the process of tumor progression.
Chromosome Aberrations/*statistics and numerical data ; Chromosome Mapping/*methods ; CpG Islands/*genetics ; *DNA Methylation ; DNA Mutational Analysis/methods ; France/epidemiology ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/epidemiology/genetics ; Genetic Screening/methods ; Genomic Instability/genetics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea/epidemiology ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Risk Assessment/*methods ; Risk Factors ; Statistics ; Stomach Neoplasms/*enzymology/*genetics

Inorganic bovine bone mineral has been widely researched as bone substitution materials in orthopedic and oral and maxillofacial application. OCS-B(NIBEC, Korea) is newly-developed inorganic bovine bone mineral. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of bovine bone-derived bone graft material(OCS-B). Micro-structure of newly-developed inorganic bovine bone mineral(OCS-B) was analyzed by scanning electron microscope(SEM). Round cranial defects with eight mm diameter were made and filled with OCS-B in rabbits. OCS-B was inserted into femoral quadrant muscle in mouse. In scanning electron microscope, OCS-B was equal to natural hydroxyapatite. Rabbits were sacrificed at 2 weeks and 4 weeks after surgery and mice were sacrificed at 1 week and 2 weeks after surgery. Decalcified specimens were prepared and observed by microscope. In calvarial defects, osteoid and new bone were formed in the neighborhood of OCS-B at 2 weeks after surgery. And at 4 weeks after surgery osteoid and new bone bridge formed flourishingly. No inflammatory cells were seen on the surface of OCS-B at 1 week and 2 weeks in mouse experimental group. It is concluded that newly-developed inorganic bovine bone mineral(OCS-B) is a flourishing bone-forming material and biocompatible material.
Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; Durapatite ; Mice ; Orthopedics ; Rabbits ; Residence Characteristics ; Transplants*

No abstract available.
Adsorption* ; Dental Pellicle ; Saliva ; Salivary Proteins and Peptides* ; Titanium*

Among the causes of SVC syndrome,intraluminal tumor,especially the leiomyosarcoma is very rare.We report a 39 year old female patient who had been suffering from headache and facial edema for 6 weeks before admission.On physical examination,facial edema and venous engorgement on upper extermities and upper chast wall were showed.The chest CT scan and SVC cavogram showed a long intraluminal mass lesion resulting in a near total obstruction of the SVC.Surgery was performed through median sternotomy.For complete resection of the tumor and thrombus,we used partial and total CPB.The follow up SVC cavogram revealed no abnormality 14 months after the operation.
Adult ; Edema ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

In clinical therapy, the current goal of dental implants is to enhance quantity and quality of osseointegration. Surface roughness and oxide structure are considered to influence the behavior of adherent cells. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of different surface treatment on cellular response. The attachment and proliferation of osteoblast-like cell on sandblasted, sandblasted and etched, thermal oxidated surfaces have been compared. Sandblasting was done with Al2O3 particles(grain size of 50micrometer), etching was processed with NH4OH : H2O2 : H2O(1:1:5) at 90degrees C for 1 minute. Thermal oxidation was followed sandblasting and etching at 400degrees C, 600degrees C, 800degrees C for 2 hours. Measurement of surface roughness after the different treatment did not show any differences of Ra value between terated surfaces. Cell attachment and proliferation were increased during experiment period, but no difference was observed. SEM evaluation revealed a similar pattern of osteoblastlike cells, well attached with dendritic extension and producing numerous matrix vesicles on cell surface. The results of this study showed that oxide layer alteration by thermal oxidation did not affect the attachment and proliferation of osteoblast-like cells. This suggests the possibility that the cellular responses are further influenced by surface roughness than titaniun oxide structure. This study was supported by a grant(HMP-98-G-2-035-B) of the HAN(highly advanced National) Projected, Ministry of Health & Welfare, R.O.K
Dental Implants ; Osseointegration ; Osteoblasts

Because the penetrating cervical tracheoesophageal injury may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality, it is important to choose the optimal method of diagnosis and management in patient with tracheoesophageal injury. We obtained a satisfactory result from repair of tracheoesophageal injuries using cardiopulmonary bypass. If the bleeding from the unidentified deep injury and the spread of infection could be controlled, the repair using CPB might increase the margin of safety during operation in the similar cases.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mortality ; Wounds, Stab*