Ursolic acid (UA) is a pentacyclic triterpene of the ursane type. As a common chemical constituent among species of the family Lamiaceae, UA possesses a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties. This overview focuses on the anticancer properties of UA against breast cancer (BC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) that are most common among women and men, respectively. In vitro studies have shown that UA inhibited the growth of BC and CRC cell lines through various molecular targets and signaling pathways. There are several in vivo studies on the cytotoxic activity of UA against BC and CRC. UA also inhibits the growth of other types of cancer. Studies on structural modifications of UA have shown that the -OH groups at C3 and at C28 are critical factors influencing the cytotoxic activity of UA and its derivatives. Some needs for future research are suggested. Sources of information were from ScienceDirect, Google Scholar and PubMed.

No abstract available.
Choroid ; Meningoencephalitis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is the most common type of autoimmune synaptic encephalitis and it often responds to treatment. We analyzed the clinical characteristics of anti-NMDAR encephalitis in Korea. METHODS: Serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of adult patients (aged > or =18 years) with encephalitis of undetermined cause were screened for anti-NMDAR antibodies using a cell-based indirect immunofluorescence assay. The patients came from 41 university hospitals. RESULTS: Of the 721 patients screened, 40 were identified with anti-NMDAR antibodies and clinical details of 32 patients were obtained (median age, 41.5 years; 15 females). Twenty-two patients (68.8%) presented with psychiatric symptoms, 16 (50%) with seizures, 13 (40.6%) with movement disorders, 15 (46.9%) with dysautonomia, 11 (34.4%) with memory disturbance, and 11 (34.4%) with speech disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, and CSF examinations yielded nonspecific findings. Tumor information was only available for 22 patients: 5 patients had tumors, and 2 of these patients had ovarian teratomas. Twenty-two patients received immunotherapy and/or surgery, and therapeutic responses were analyzed in 21 patients, of which 14 (66.7%) achieved favorable functional outcomes (score on the modified Rankin Scale of 0-2). CONCLUSIONS: This study investigated the clinical characteristics of adult anti-NMDAR encephalitis in Korea. Currently, elderly patients who do not have tumors are commonly diagnosed with this condition. Understanding the detailed clinical characteristics of this disease will improve the early detection of anti-NMDAR encephalitis in patients both young and old.
Adult ; Aged ; Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis* ; Antibodies ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Electroencephalography ; Encephalitis ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Memory ; Movement Disorders ; Primary Dysautonomias ; Seizures ; Teratoma

Osteosarcomas usually occur as secondary tumors after radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Without a history of irradiation to the head and neck area, primary osteosarcoma of the turbinate is extremely rare. We report here a rare case of primary turbinate osteosarcoma presenting as a relatively small, well-circumscribed, turbinate mass. Its appearance mimicked a benign nasal mass like mucocele and polyp. We also reviewed the previously reported cases of tumor arising from turbinate.
Head ; Humans ; Mucocele ; Neck ; Osteosarcoma ; Polyps ; Turbinates

Recurrent urinary tract infection due to vesicoureteral reflux is one of the important medical complications in renal transplant recipients. Injection of macroplastique is recommended to reduce the vesicoureteral reflux, but it can result in poor responses. Ureteroureterostomy is an invasive method, but it is advisable in patients with higher grades of vesicoureteral reflux that do not respond to medical or macroplastique injection. We here report on two cases of successful treatment of vesicoureteral reflux by ureteroureterostomy. These patients experienced repeated episodes of acute pyelonephritis in spite of long-term antibiotic treatment and repeated macroplastique injection. No more urinary tract infection was observed after ureteroureterostomy. We recommend ureteroureterostomy in renal transplant recipients who suffer with repeated acute pyelonephritis due to vesicoureteral refulx.
Dimethylpolysiloxanes ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Pyelonephritis ; Transplants ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

PURPOSE: Palpable lymph nodes are common in the pediatric population, and most of them are either inflammatory or congenital. As the diagnostic evaluation, fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is known to be more convenient and economical than tissue biopsy. We evaluated the usefulness of FNAC in children and adolescents. METHODS: Four hundred and thirteen FNAC samples(M:F=1:1.15) were retrospectively analyzed in patients who were brought to Inha University Hospital, from August 1999 to August 2004. RESULTS: The most common age group was 16-20 years of age(N=148, 35.8 percent). The cervical area was the most frequently involved site(N=310, 75 percent). Non-specific lymphadenitis was the most common(N=227, 54.9 percent), followed by the benign neoplasm(N=59, 14.2 percent). Malignant tumors were 18 cases(4.3 percent), and congenital diseases were found in 10 cases(2.4 percent). In inflammatory lesions, tuberculous lymphadenitis(N=22, 5.3 percent) was the most common with a histologic sensitivity of 90.9 percent. The peripheral blood and serologic studies were non-specific. Fifty nine percent(N=244) of lymphadenitis improved without specific management. Antibiotics were prescribed in 15.2 percent of lymphadenitis and lymphadenectomy was performed in 12.6 percent. CONCLUSION: Most of the enlarged lymph nodes in children and adolescents were benign. These results show FNAC is a safe, rapid and reliable diagnostic procedure for the appropriate differential diagnosis of enlarged lymph nodes in children and adolescents.
Adolescent* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Child* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphadenitis ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to immunohistochemically identify lymph node micormetastases in Dukes' B colorectal cancer patients, and determine the relationship between lymph node micrometastases and other prognostic factors and recurrence rates. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 990 lymph nodes from Dukes' B 42 patients who had undergone radical colorectal resection. These lymph nodes were immunohistochemically examined with monoclonal antibodies against cytokeratin-19. The prognostic factors and recurrent rates were compared between patients with and without lymph node micrometastases. RESULTS: Micrometastases were confirmed in 19 nodes (1.9%) from 9 patients (21.4%). No correlations were observed between micrometastases and the prognostic factors, with the exception of the preoperative CEA level. 8 of the 9 (88.9%) patients with micrometastases had preoperative CEA levels significantly elevated above 5 ng/ml (P<0.0001). There were no significant differences in the recurrent rates (P=0.0572) between patients with and without micrometastases during the short term follow up period (14.8 months) at the 95% confidence interval, but there were significant differences at the 90% confidence interval. CONCLUSION: High preoperative CEA levels increase the risk for micrometastases, and the presence of micrometastases might increase the possibility of recurrence. Thus, a routine immunohistochemical technique for identifying micrometastases is recommended in the patients with a high preoperative CEA level. However, a more definite clinical significance of lymph node micrometastases awaits further extensive prospective studies.
Antibodies, Monoclonal* ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratin-19* ; Lymph Nodes* ; Neoplasm Micrometastasis* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to immunohistochemically identify lymph node micormetastases in Dukes' B colorectal cancer patients, and determine the relationship between lymph node micrometastases and other prognostic factors and recurrence rates. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 990 lymph nodes from Dukes' B 42 patients who had undergone radical colorectal resection. These lymph nodes were immunohistochemically examined with monoclonal antibodies against cytokeratin-19. The prognostic factors and recurrent rates were compared between patients with and without lymph node micrometastases. RESULTS: Micrometastases were confirmed in 19 nodes (1.9%) from 9 patients (21.4%). No correlations were observed between micrometastases and the prognostic factors, with the exception of the preoperative CEA level. 8 of the 9 (88.9%) patients with micrometastases had preoperative CEA levels significantly elevated above 5 ng/ml (P<0.0001). There were no significant differences in the recurrent rates (P=0.0572) between patients with and without micrometastases during the short term follow up period (14.8 months) at the 95% confidence interval, but there were significant differences at the 90% confidence interval. CONCLUSION: High preoperative CEA levels increase the risk for micrometastases, and the presence of micrometastases might increase the possibility of recurrence. Thus, a routine immunohistochemical technique for identifying micrometastases is recommended in the patients with a high preoperative CEA level. However, a more definite clinical significance of lymph node micrometastases awaits further extensive prospective studies.
Antibodies, Monoclonal* ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratin-19* ; Lymph Nodes* ; Neoplasm Micrometastasis* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Acute epiglottitis is a disease that may become serious or even fatal because of sudden upper airway obstruction. The incidence of acute epiglottitis in children has declined with introduction of the Haemophilus influenza type b vaccine. However, there have been few reports about acute epiglottitis in adults up until now. The aim of this study was to assess clinical characteristics of adult cases of acute epiglottitis. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed 85 hospitalized adult patients who had been admitted to the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck surgery, Korea University Hospital from January 1998 to December 2002, and diagnosed with acute epiglottitis. RESULTS: Among the 85 patients, 23 cases (27%) and 24 cases (28%) were found in fourth and sixth decades of age, respectively. The male-to-female ratio was 1.6:1. Monthly distribution showed that 12 cases (14%) were in March and 11 (13%) in July. The most common symptom was in the order of throat pain (78%). Others were dysphagia (68%), voice change (67%) and dyspnea (42%). All patients were treated with antibiotics and steroids. About a half of all cases (54%) were hospitalized for 4 to 5 days. Tracheostomy was performed in 2 patients and orotracheal intubation in one patient. CONCLUSION: Throat pain and dysphagia were most common symptoms of acute epiglottitis. In most cases, therapies using intravenous antibiotics and short-term steroid were effective, but otolaryngologist must also suspect the possibility of sudden upper airway obstruction. We experienced emergency situations regarding airway obstruction in only three cases during the first week of hospitalization.
Adult* ; Airway Obstruction ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dyspnea ; Emergencies ; Epiglottitis* ; Haemophilus ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Influenza, Human ; Intubation ; Korea ; Neck ; Pharynx ; Retrospective Studies ; Steroids ; Tracheostomy ; Voice

PURPOSE: Childhood acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a benign hematologic disease. Therapy does not affect the natural history of the illness. We evaluated the clinical and laboratory findings, treatment and prognosis of childhood acute ITP in Korea through a retrospective multicenter study. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively the data of 1, 829 children with acute ITP through survey of 33 hospitals among 43 hospitals in Korea from Sep. 1992 to Aug. 2001. RESULTS: Male to female ratio was 1.3: 1 and the median age at the diagnosis of ITP was 2.9 (0.1 17) years. Median duration of follow up was 6 months. One hundred and forty nine cases of the total 1, 829 patients (8.1%) received no treatment. The initial median platelet count of the non-treated group was 42, 500/mm3. Among the 861 cases who were followed up over 6 months, 315 cases (36.6%) progressed into chronic ITP. Associated with this high rate of chronicity of childhood acute ITP patients in Korea, we must consider the fact that acute ITP patients with fast improvement in the first episode tend not to follow up. Considering that fact, the rate of chronicity becomes 17.2% of the 1, 829 acute ITP patients. The treated group used many kinds of treatment methods. Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) with or without prednisolone (PD) (67.5%) were the most commonly used regimens. In the group treated with IVIG alone, the platelet count began to rise above 50, 000/mm3 at 2.6 days, 100, 000/mm3 at 3.7 days and 150, 000/mm3 at 4.9 days. Four hundred and twenty two cases of the 1, 686 (25.0%) cases followed up after first episode of ITP relapsed. The relapse rate was significantly higher in older patients and in girls than in younger patients and in boys (P< 0.05). The chronicity of ITP statistically increased with age (P< 0.05) and that was the only valuable factor. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that childhood acute ITP is a pretty common disaese, there is no agreement on the best treatment method for this disease. The establishment of Korean treatment guideline of childhood acute ITP, based on an analysis of multicenters, seems to be needed.
Child ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematologic Diseases ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Korea* ; Male ; Natural History ; Platelet Count ; Prednisolone ; Prognosis ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies