Neuroinflammation is an immune response within the central nervous system against various proinflammatory stimuli. Abnormal activation of this response contributes to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and Huntington disease. Therefore, pharmacologic modulation of abnormal neuroinflammation is thought to be a promising approach to amelioration of neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we evaluated the synthetic flavone derivative 3′,4′-dihydroxyflavone, investigating its anti-neuroinflammatory activity in BV2 microglial cells and in a mouse model. In BV2 microglial cells, 3′,4′-dihydroxyflavone successfully inhibited production of chemokines such as nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 and proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 beta, and interleukin 6 in BV2 microglia. It also inhibited phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation. This indicates that the anti-inflammatory activities of 3′,4′-dihydroxyflavone might be related to suppression of the proinflammatory MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. Similar anti-neuroinflammatory activities of the compound were observed in the mouse model. These findings suggest that 3′,4′-dihydroxyflavone is a potential drug candidate for the treatment of microglia-related neuroinflammatory diseases.
Animals ; Central Nervous System ; Chemokines ; Cytokines ; Dinoprostone ; Huntington Disease ; Interleukin-1beta ; Interleukin-6 ; Mice* ; Microglia* ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Nitric Oxide ; Parkinson Disease ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinases ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

This study investigated the effects of ombuoside, a flavonol glycoside, on dopamine biosynthesis in PC12 cells. Ombuoside at concentrations of 1, 5, and 10 µM increased intracellular dopamine levels at 1 – 24 h. Ombuoside (1, 5, and 10 µM) also significantly increased the phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) (Ser40) and cyclic AMP-response element binding protein (CREB) (Ser133) at 0.5 – 6 h. In addition, ombuoside (1, 5, and 10 µM) combined with L-DOPA (20, 100, and 200 µM) further increased intracellular dopamine levels for 24 h compared to L-DOPA alone. These results suggest that ombuoside regulates dopamine biosynthesis by modulating TH and CREB activation in PC12 cells.
Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; Dopamine ; Levodopa ; PC12 Cells ; Phosphorylation ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate the effects of a recreation therapy program on burn rehabilitation patients to determine if the program is an effective nursing intervention which can affect mental health problems and heart rate variability. METHODS: Subjects were 54 hospitalized burn rehabilitation patients (25 in the control group, 29 in the experimental group). The experimental group participated 6 times in a recreation therapy program led by a qualified instructor. Brief symptoms inventory-18 (somatization, anxiety, depression) questionnaire, and heart rate variability were checked before and after the recreation therapy program. RESULTS: The mental health scale showed significant differences in somatization (p<.001), anxiety (p<.001) and depression (p<.001). There was no significant difference in heart rate variability (autonomic activity, autonomic balance, stress resistance, stress parameter and fatigue, mean heart rate, electro-cardiac stability). CONCLUSION: The findings from this study suggest that a recreation therapy program is an effective nursing intervention to decrease the level of mental health problems of burn rehabilitation patients. However, a subsequent study is needed to develop an intervention program that will induce the effect of physiological parameters like heart rate variability (HRV).
Anxiety ; Burns* ; Depression ; Fatigue ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Mental Health* ; Nursing ; Recreation Therapy* ; Recreation* ; Rehabilitation*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze how the experiences of nurses influence their role model function when they are mothers of children who in turn have become nurses or nursing students. METHOD: The subjects of this study were 12 nurses, 8 of their children who became nurses and another 4 children then in training to become one. Data were collected through in-depth personal interviews and subsequently analyzed through a phenomenological approach. RESULTS: Four main themes were identified as follows; 'Persuasion and dissuasion,' 'Proud but still pathetic,' 'As mom and senior nurse' and 'Great to pass it down.' CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that the nurse as mother could be a positive professional role model for her children. However, they tended to stress the arduous clinical routines and poor work conditions nurses currently experience. Should such routines and conditions improve, mothers who are nurses would be more willing to recommend the nursing profession to their children. Improving the professional environment is thus important because inter-generation nursing mobility provides a reliable resource to recruit qualified and dedicated nursing personnel.
Career Mobility ; Child ; Humans ; Intergenerational Relations ; Mothers ; Nursing ; Professional Role ; Qualitative Research ; Students, Nursing

BACKGROUND: Cyclic AMP stimulates the expression of the somatostatin (SRIF) receptor (sst1-5) and human growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary tumors with the gsp oncogene which increases intracellular cAMP levels, and shows a good inhibitory response of the GH to SRIF. Taken together, we hypothesized that the gsp oncogene may increase the SRIF receptor expression or and factors related to the postreceptor signal transduction of the SRIF, in order to enhance its responsiveness to SRIF. To test this hypothesis, we investigated if the gsp oncogene could increase the sst1, sst2, Gi2 alpha, and pit-1 alpha gene expression in GH3 cells. METHODS: GH3 cells were permanently transfected with the plasmid expressing Gs alpha gene, where the arginine of codon 201 was replaced with histidine. Intracellular cAMP levels and GH concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassays. Gene expressions of the sst1, sst2, Gi2 alpha, and pit-1 alpha were determined by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Intracellular cAMP levels and medium GH release were increased by 1.7 and 2.7-fold in GH3 cells expressing the gsp oncogene, respectively. In GH3 cells expressing the gsp oncogene, the sst1 mRNA levels were decreased, whereas those of the sst2, Gi2 alpha and pit-1 alpha mRNA were increased. A 4-h forskolin (10 M) stimulation remarkably increased the sst1 and sst2 mRNA levels in GH3 cells expressing wild and mutant Gs alpha . However, forskolin did not affect the Gi2 alpha and pit-1 alpha mRNA levels. In contrast, SRIF (1 M, 2 h) decreased the sst2 mRNA levels only in GH3 cells expressing the gsp oncogene. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that higher expressions of sst2, Gi2 alpha, and pit-1 alpha, induced by the gsp oncogene may be a mechanism by which gsp-positive pituitary tumors show a greater response to SRIF. The discrepancy between these and in vivo results should be explored further.
Acromegaly ; Arginine ; Codon ; Colforsin ; Cyclic AMP ; Gene Expression* ; Histidine ; Human Growth Hormone ; Oncogenes ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Plasmids ; Radioimmunoassay ; Receptors, Somatostatin* ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction ; Somatostatin*

BACKGROUND: Mutation of Gs protein subunit (gsp oncogene), detected in about 30~40% of growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary tumors, is associated with an increased long-acting somatostatin analog octreotide sensitivity. However, the mRNA expression of somatostatin receptor (sst) was not changed in the GH-secreting pituitary tumor, regardless of whether they were gsp oncogene positive or negative. This suggests that the expression of genes coding for Gi2 alpha , Pit-1 and the other factors involved in the regulation of secretory activity in somatotrophs is likely to be altered in gsp oncogene positive tumors. We observed the impact of the gsp oncogene on the expression of the genes coding for Gi2 alpha, Pit-1 and sst (2&5) in GH-secreting pituitary tumors. METHODS: The GH response to octreotide was examined in 13 acromegalic patients before transsphenoidal adenomectomy. Genomic DNA and RNA were extracted from fresh frozen tumor tissues. PCR was performed to amplify and sequence the region between codon 184 and 251 that includes exons 8 and 9 of the Gs gene. Sst2, sst5, Gi2 alpha and Pit-1 mRNA levels were measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: Sst2 and sst5 mRNA transcripts were detected in all tumors (7 gsp +, 6 gsp-). The amount of sst transcripts varied considerably varied between the tumors. There were no significant differences in sex, age, tumor size, grade or basal GH levels. Pit-1 and sst2 mRNA levels were not different. In contrast, Gi2 alpha mRNA levels were significantly higher in gsp (+) while sst5 mRNA levels were higher in gsp (-). CONCLUSION: These data suggests that gsp oncogene may increase Gi2 alpha levels but decrease sst5 mRNA levels. However, Pit-1 and sst2 mRNA expression may not be affected by gsp oncogene. The increased expression of the Gi2 alpha gene might be an inhibitory compensatory response to the action of gsp oncogene.
Acromegaly ; Clinical Coding ; Codon ; DNA ; Exons ; Gene Expression* ; Growth Hormone ; Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma* ; Humans ; Octreotide ; Oncogenes ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein Subunits ; Receptors, Somatostatin* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Somatostatin* ; Somatotrophs

Anomalous union of pancraeticobiliary drain (AUPBD) is uncommon anomaly of the pancreaticobiliary ductal union system. Usually, this anomaly is confirmed by long common channel (>15 mm) at ERCP and is divided into according to relationship between pancreatic duct and common bile duct. Recently several reports showed that AUPBD may be associated with congenital choledochal cyst and gallbladder carcinoma. A 33-year old man was admitted with RUQ pain and jaundice. Ultrasonography, Abdominal CT, ERCP, and PTBD cholangiography showed type I choledochal cyst, AUPBD and focal adenomyomatosis on the gallbladder. Whipple's operation with excision of the choledochal cyst and chloecystectomy were performed for treatment. This clinical experience suggests that high incidence of choledochal cyst in patients with AUPBD and gallbladder adenomyomatosis are may be closely related to the carcinogenesis of gallbladder cancer in patients with AUPBD.
Adult ; Carcinogenesis ; Cholangiography ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Choledochal Cyst* ; Common Bile Duct ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Jaundice ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

Multilocular cystic nephroma is a rare disease, noninherited benign renal neoplasm occurring in both children and adults. It is necessary to make a differential diagnosis from all renal diseases with a cystic component, such as Wilms tumor, armatoma or polycystic dysplastic kidney in childhood. There are about only 200 case reports in the world since Walter Edmunds had described it first. We report a case of multilocular cystic nephroma presented with painless abdominal mass, treated with nephrectomy and confirmed with pathology.
Adult ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Nephrectomy ; Pathology ; Rare Diseases ; Wilms Tumor

Adrenal gland is a common site of metastatic tumors such as breast cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer. When adrenal mass is found incidentally, adenoma is the most common among single adrenal masses. But in the case of bilateral adrenal masses, infection, bilateral metastases and hemorrhage are common. Secondary involvement of the adrenal gland is found in 25% of autopsy cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, adrenal insufficiency is rare because it becomes apparent only when approximately 90% of adrenal cortex is destructed. We exprienced two cases of malignant lymphoma which involved the adrenal glands bilaterally. One case in which adrenal insufficiency was suspicious, was accompanied by hypovolemic shock and sepsis at the initial presentation. He died of sepsis combined with DIC even though hydrocortisone, intravenous saline infusion, and antibiotics therapy were started immediately. The other one was found incidentally, in which adrenal infiltraion was confirmed by CT scan. Hormonal level was normal and adrenal masses disappeared after chemotherapy.
Adenoma ; Adrenal Cortex ; Adrenal Glands* ; Adrenal Insufficiency ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Autopsy ; Breast Neoplasms ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Dacarbazine ; Drug Therapy ; Hemorrhage ; Hydrocortisone ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymphoma* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Sepsis ; Shock ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To correlate the atypical sonographic patterns of fibroadenoma of the breast with the pathologicfindings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 203 surgically proven 43 which were sonographi-cally atypicalfibroadenomas, were retrospectively reviewed. The diagnostic criteria for atypical va riety, as seen onsonography, were an ill-defined margin, microlobulated or irregular shape, heterogeneous internal echo-pattern,posterior shadowing, micro-calcification, and clefts. The atypical sonographic patterns of these 43 fibroadenomaswere analysed and compared with the pathologic findings. RESULTS: Among 43 lesions, ill-defined margins orirregular shapes were seen in 15 c a s e s, heterogeneous internal echo-patterns in 27, posterior attenuation innine, and clefts in seven. Thirty-seven (86%) of the 43 were predominantly ductal or hada mixed ductal and stromalcomponent. Eleven (73.3%) of fifteen ill-defined margin or irregular shaped lesions were caused by interdigitationof surrounding normal breast parenchyma and mass. Twenty two (81.5%) of 27 heterogeneous internal echo-pat-ternswere related to dilated ducts, phyllodes features, collagen bundles, adenosis, mi-crocalcification, or fatvacuoles. Eight (88.9%) of nine posterior attenuations were caused by collagen bundles, microcalcification, ductalproliferation or dilatation. All seven cases showing clefts revealed phyllodes features and dilated ducts. CONCLUSIONS: Most atypical fibroadenomas had a redominantly ductal or mixed component. Ill-defined margin orirregular shape was mainly due to interdigitation of normal surrounding parenchyma. Variable histologic featureswere related to the het-erogeneous internal echo-pattern, posterior shadowing, and the clefts revealed by atypicalsonographic findings.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Collagen ; Dilatation ; Fibroadenoma* ; Retrospective Studies ; Shadowing (Histology) ; Ultrasonography*