Oxidative stress-induced neurodegeneration is one of several etiologies underlying neurodegenerative disease. In the present study, we investigated the functional role of histone methyltransferase G9a in oxidative stress-induced degeneration in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Cell viability significantly decreased on H2O2treatment; however, treatment with the G9a inhibitor BIX01294 partially attenuated this effect. The expression of neuron-specific genes also decreased in H2O2 -treated cells; however, it recovered on G9a inhibition. H2O2 -treated cells showed high levels of H3K9me2 (histone H3 demethylated at the lysine 9 residue), which is produced by G9a activation; BIX01294 treatment reduced aberrant activation of G9a.H3K9me2 occupancy of the RE-1 site in neuron-specific genes was significantly increased in H2O2 -treated cells, whereas it was decreased in BIX01294-treated cells. The differentiation of H2O2 -treated cells also recovered on G9a inhibition by BIX01294. Consistent results were observed when used another G9a inhibitor UCN0321. These results demonstrate that oxidative stress induces aberrant activation of G9a, which disturbs the expression of neuron-specific genes and progressively mediates neuronal cell death. Moreover, a G9a inhibitor can lessen aberrant G9a activity and prevent neuronal damage. G9a inhibition may therefore contribute to the prevention of oxidative stress-induced neurodegeneration.

Oxidative stress-induced neurodegeneration is one of several etiologies underlying neurodegenerative disease. In the present study, we investigated the functional role of histone methyltransferase G9a in oxidative stress-induced degeneration in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Cell viability significantly decreased on H2O2treatment; however, treatment with the G9a inhibitor BIX01294 partially attenuated this effect. The expression of neuron-specific genes also decreased in H2O2 -treated cells; however, it recovered on G9a inhibition. H2O2 -treated cells showed high levels of H3K9me2 (histone H3 demethylated at the lysine 9 residue), which is produced by G9a activation; BIX01294 treatment reduced aberrant activation of G9a.H3K9me2 occupancy of the RE-1 site in neuron-specific genes was significantly increased in H2O2 -treated cells, whereas it was decreased in BIX01294-treated cells. The differentiation of H2O2 -treated cells also recovered on G9a inhibition by BIX01294. Consistent results were observed when used another G9a inhibitor UCN0321. These results demonstrate that oxidative stress induces aberrant activation of G9a, which disturbs the expression of neuron-specific genes and progressively mediates neuronal cell death. Moreover, a G9a inhibitor can lessen aberrant G9a activity and prevent neuronal damage. G9a inhibition may therefore contribute to the prevention of oxidative stress-induced neurodegeneration.

Purpose: Pneumococcal vaccination (13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine [PCV13]) is recommended to cancer patients undergoing systemic chemotherapy. However, the optimal time interval between vaccine administration and initiation of chemotherapy has been little studied in adult patients with solid malignancies. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial to evaluate whether administering PCV13 on the first day of chemotherapy is non-inferior to vaccinating 2 weeks prior to chemotherapy initiation. Patients were randomly assigned to two study arms, and serum samples were collected at baseline and 4 weeks after vaccination to analyze the serologic response against Streptococcus pneumoniae using a multiplexed opsonophagocytic killingassay. Results: Of the 92 patients who underwent randomization, 43 patients in arm A (vaccination 2 weeks before chemotherapy) and 44 patients in arm B (vaccination on the first day of chemotherapy) were analyzed. Immunogenicity was assessed by geometric mean and fold-increase of post-vaccination titers, seroprotection rates (percentage of patients with post-vaccination titers > 1:64), and seroconversion rates (percentage of patients with > 4-fold increase in post-vaccination titers). Serologic responses to PCV13 did not differ significantly between the two study arms according to all three types of assessments. Conclusion The overall antibody response to PCV13 is adequate in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer during adjuvant chemotherapy, and no significant difference was found when patients were vaccinated two weeks before or on the day of chemotherapy initiation.

PURPOSE: To investigate the difference in blood loss between two injection methods, intravenous (IV) and intra-articular (IA) methods via drain tube. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 183 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty between October 2013 and March 2016 were included. The method of tranexamic acid (TXA) administration was intravenously injected before August 2015, and it was applied thereafter to the joint through a drainage tube post intra-articular suture. Our subjects were divided into the following groups: The intravenous unilateral (IVU), intravenous bilateral (IVB), intra-articular unilateral (IAU), and intra-articular bilateral (IAB) groups. Hemoglobin and hematocrit, drainage amount, transfusion frequency, mean transfusion volume, and blood loss, as well as complications were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Drainage amount was 558.08±296.29 ml in IVU, and 498.39±199.70 ml in IAU; there was less drainage in IAU than in IVU, but without significance (p=0.262). Moreover, the drainage amount was 1,110.39±396.23 ml in IVB and 827.14±282.47 ml in IAB, which was significantly lower in IAB (p=0.000). Transfusion frequency was 5 patients (10.0%) in IVU and 2 patients (4.5%) in IAU, but without significant difference (p=0.442). Moreover, the frequency was 16 patients (29.6%) in IVB and 1 patient (2.9%) in IAB, which was significantly lower in the IAB group (p=0.002). Mean transfusion volume was 44.80±144.71 ml in IVU and 21.80±106.86 ml in IAU, but without significant difference (p=0.389); the volume was 177.80±321.00 ml in IVB and 18.30±108.18 ml in IAB, with statistical significance (p=0.001). Blood loss was 1,318.70±724.20 ml in IVU and 963.28±454.03 ml in IAU, which was significantly lower in the IAU (p=0.006); blood loss was 1,837.40±699.70 ml in IVB, and 1,337.60±382.20 ml in IAB and it was significantly lower in IAB (p=0.000). Complications included deep vein thrombosis in one case in IVU. CONCLUSION: In TKA, IA injection of TXA significantly reduced blood loss compared with IV injection, especially in bilateral TKA.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee* ; Blood Transfusion ; Drainage ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Joints ; Methods ; Sutures ; Tranexamic Acid* ; Venous Thrombosis

Congenital chloride diarrhea (CLD) is a rare inherited autosomal recessive disorder. Mutations of the solute carrier family 26 member 3 gene cause profuse, chloride ion rich diarrhea, which results in hypochloremia, hyponatremia and metabolic alkalosis with dehydration. If a fetal ultrasound shows bowel dilatation suggestive of bowel obstruction, or if a neonate shows persistent diarrhea and metabolic alkalosis, CLD should be considered in the differential diagnosis. The severity of CLD varies, but early detection and early therapy can prevent complications including growth failure. We report a case of dizygotic twins affected by CLD who had been born to non-consanguineous parents. Both of them showed growth failure, but one of the twins experienced worse clinical course. He showed developmental delay, along with dehydration and severe electrolyte imbalance. He was diagnosed with CLD first at 6-month age, and then the other one was also diagnosed with CLD.
Alkalosis ; Dehydration ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Infant, Newborn ; Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; Parents ; Polyhydramnios ; Secondary Prevention ; Twins, Dizygotic

OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical characteristics of the fetuses with agenesis of corpus callosum (ACC) diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2007, total twenty-two cases of ACC were identified. All cases were diagnosed by the direct evaluation of the corpus callosum using the ultrasonograpy with or without 3D multi-slice technique and color Doppler. Postnatal work-up was done by MRI or autopsy. RESULTS: The median gestational week was 26 weeks (19 to 34 weeks). The most common abnormal ultrasonographic finding was ventriculomegaly, shown in 19 (86.3%) of 22 cases. Absent cavum septum pellucidum and dilated upward displacement of third ventricle were also shown in 18 (81.8%) and 15 (68.2%) of 22 cases, respectively. Postnatal work-up performed in 9 cases (4 live-born babies and 5 still births) additionally confirmed the associated anomalies in three cases including a heart defect, an Aicardi syndrome, and trisomy 18. CONCLUSION: The analysis of 22 cases presented in this report provides the precise materials to understand ACC. Targeted ultrasonographic evaluation may be helpful for prenatal diagnosis of ACC but has the limitation in differentiation of an isolated ACC from complex defect. To solve this limitation, therefore, the meticulous prenatal work-up and counseling would be needed.
Agenesis of Corpus Callosum ; Aicardi Syndrome ; Corpus Callosum ; Counseling ; Displacement (Psychology) ; Fetus ; Heart ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Septum Pellucidum ; Third Ventricle ; Trisomy

PURPOSE: To perform comparative analysis between the results of internal fixation and hemiarthroplasty in unstable intertrochanteric fracture of osteoporotic bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 2003 to February 2006, 36 patients treated surgically for unstable intertrochanteric fractures were evaluated. The patient's age was older than 70 year old; the T-score of preoperative bone mineral density (BMD) was lower than -3.0; they were followed up for more than 1 year. The patient were divided into two groups. One group was treated with dynamic hip screw or proximal femoral nail (Group A, 23 cases), and the other group was treated with bipolar hemiarthroplasty (Group B, 13 cases). The two groups were compared in terms of hip joint function using Clawson classification and radiologically. RESULTS: Nonunion and fixation failure happened in 6 cases (26%) of gruop A. However, all patients in group B showed stable maintenance of implant. Recovery of hip joint function was found in 13 cases (43%) of group A, whereas 12 cases (93%) of group B recovered. CONCLUSION: Nonunion and failure of fixation happened more frequently in internal fixation than bipolar hemiarthroplasty, and the postoperative hip joint function was better in bipolar hemiarthroplasty than internal fixation. Therefore, bipolar hemiarthroplasty might be better operative treatment for unstable intertrochanteric fracture of osteoporotic bone.
Bone Density ; Classification ; Hemiarthroplasty* ; Hip ; Hip Fractures ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Osteoporosis

STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective study was designed to evaluate treatment options for spinal stenosis with degenerative scoliosis. PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes based on the degree of spinal deformity for selective pedicle screw fixation with a long fusion for spinal stenosis with degenerative scoliosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 54 cases performed from March 1996 to March 2006, and divided them into three groups based on osteophyte formation, pedicular rotation, and lateral transition. The three groups were analyzed for degree of correction of scoliotic and lordotic angle and bone fusion rate, as well as radiographically and clinically using the Kirkaldy-Willis questionnaire. RESULTS: Mild or moderate deformities (49 cases) were improved an average of 3 degrees of scoliotic angle, grade 1 of pedicular rotation, and 1 mm of lateral transition and were satisfied clinically. Severe deformities (5 cases) improved an average of 8 degrees of scoliotic angle, grade 2 of pedicular rotation, and 3 mm of lateral transition, but were clinically unsatisfactory. There was insignificant correction of the lordotic angle in all deformities and a fusion rate of 81.5% in mild-to-moderate deformities and 40% in severe deformities. CONCLUSION: Selective pedicle screw fixation with a long fusion for spinal stenosis with degenerative scoliosis is a treatment option for mild to moderate deformities.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Decompression ; Osteophyte ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis* ; Spinal Stenosis*

PURPOSE: We evaluated the changes of storage symptoms after tension-free vaginal tape(TVT) procedures in stress urinary incontinence(SUI) patients, and we investigated the factors predicting the changes of storage symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2000 to August 2003, 713 patients with SUI were operated on with using suburethral sling procedures(TVT). A follow-up study was conducted for over a one year period with 495 patients. We analyzed the one year outcomes of TVT surgeries and the changes of storage symptoms after TVT. RESULTS: The rates of cure and improvements at one year after TVT were 80.8% and 12.3%, respectively. At one month after TVT, 59 of 180(33%) patients with urgency before TVT were improved, and 60 of 72(83.6%) patients with urgency incontinence before TVT were improved. In 86 of 180(47.8%) patients, the urgency is improved, and in 65 of 72(90.1%) patients, the urgency incontinence disappeared at one year after TVT procedure. Urgency developed in 65 of the 243(26.9%) patients who had no urgency before TVT, but after 1 year, only 28(10.2%, 25/243) these 243 patients had urgency. 102(31.6%) of the patients with frequency before TVT were improved after TVT. Of the 92 patients with nocturia, 22 (23.4%) patients were improved. There were no statically significant factors predicting the changes of the storage symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The total improvement rate (cure+improvements) of stress urinary incontinence was 93.1% at one year. We can expect the improvement of urgency(47.1%) and urgency incontinence(90.1%) after TVT procedures, but not improvement of the frequency and nocturia.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Nocturia ; Suburethral Slings* ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive ; Urinary Incontinence* ; Urinary Incontinence, Urge

A congenital ureteral valve is a rare disease, with the first case presented in 1887, since when, only 42 cases have subsequently been reported. From a review of the reported cases, this abnormality was often found to be associated with other urological disorders, such as vesicoureteral reflux, ectopic ureter, complete and incomplete duplication of the kidney, and contralateral renal atrophy. Here, the case of an adult patient with multiple congenital ureteral valves and renal atrophy is reported.
Adult* ; Atrophy ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Kidney ; Rare Diseases ; Ureter* ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux