BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dysregulation of histone deacetylase expression and enzymatic activity is associated with a number of diseases. It has been reported that protein levels of histone deacetylase (HDAC)1 and HDAC5 increase during human pulmonary hypertension, and that the enzymatic activity of HDAC6 is induced in a chronic hypertensive animal model. This study investigated the protein expression profiles of class I and II a/b HDACs in three systemic hypertension models. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We used three different hypertensive animal models: (i) Wistar-Kyoto rats (n=8) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR; n=8), (ii) mice infused with saline or angiotensin II to induce hypertension, via osmotic mini-pump for 2 weeks, and (iii) mice that were allowed to drink L-N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) to induce hypertension. RESULTS: SHR showed high systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures. Similar increases in systolic blood pressure were observed in angiotensin II or L-NAME-induced hypertensive mice. In SHR, class IIa HDAC (HDAC4, 5, and 7) and class IIb HDAC (HDAC6 and 10) protein expression were significantly increased. In addition, a HDAC3 protein expression was induced in SHR. However, in L-NAME mice, class IIa HDAC protein levels (HDAC4, 5, 7, and 9) were significantly reduced. HDAC8 protein levels were significantly reduced both in angiotensin II mice and in SHR. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that dysregulation of class I and class II HDAC protein is closely associated with chronic hypertension.
Angiotensin II ; Animals* ; Blood Pressure ; Histone Deacetylases* ; Histones* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Mice ; Models, Animal* ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Differentiation and de-differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are important events in atherosclerosis and restenosis after angioplasty. MicroRNAs are considered a key regulator in cellular processes such as differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Here, we report the role of new miR-18a-5p microRNA and its downstream target genes in VSMCs and in a carotid balloon injury model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Expression of miR-18a-5p and its candidate genes was examined in VSMCs and in a carotid artery injury model by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and microRNA microarray analysis. VSMC differentiation marker genes including smooth muscle (SM) alpha-actin and SM22alpha were determined by Western blot, qRT-PCR, and a SM22alpha promoter study. Gene overexpression or knockdown was performed in VSMCs. RESULTS: miR-18a-5p was upregulated in the rat carotid artery at the early time after balloon injury. Transfection of the miR-18a-5p mimic promoted the VSMC differentiation markers SM alpha-actin and SM22alpha. In addition, miR-18a-5p expression was induced in differentiated VSMCs, whereas it decreased in de-differentiated VSMCs. We identified syndecan4 as a downstream target of miR-18-5p in VSMCs. Overexpression of syndecan4 decreased Smad2 expression, whereas knockdown of syndecan4 increased Smad2 expression in VSMCs. Finally, we showed that Smad2 induced the expression of VSMC differentiation marker genes in VSMCs. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that miR-18a-5p is involved in VSMC differentiation by targeting syndecan4.
Actins ; Angioplasty ; Animals ; Antigens, Differentiation ; Apoptosis ; Atherosclerosis ; Blotting, Western ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery Injuries ; Cell Differentiation* ; Microarray Analysis ; MicroRNAs* ; Muscle, Smooth ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats ; Smad2 Protein ; Syndecan-4* ; Transfection

Fungi are the known sources of irritation associated with atopic diseases (e.g., asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic eczema). To quantitatively estimate their presence in the indoor environment of atopic dermatitis-inflicted child patient's houses (ADCPHs), the high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters installed inside the air cleaners of three different ADCPHs were investigated for the presence of mold. The air cleaner HEPA filters obtained from the three different ADCPHs were coded as HEPA-A, -B, and -C, respectively, and tested for the presence of mold. The colony forming units (CFUs) corresponding to the HEPA-A, -B, and -C filters were estimated to be 6.51 x 10(2) +/- 1.50 x 10(2) CFU/cm2, 8.72 x 10(2) +/- 1.69 x 10(2) CFU/cm2, and 9.71 x 10(2) +/- 1.35 x 10(2) CFU/cm2, respectively. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Trichoderma, and other fungal groups were detected in the 2,494 isolates. The distribution of these fungal groups differed among the three filters. Cladosporium was the major fungal group in filters HEPA-A and -C, whereas Penicillium was the major fungal group in the filter HEPA-B. Nine fungal species, including some of the known allergenic species, were identified in these isolates. Cladosporium cladosporioides was the most common mold among all the three filters. This is the first report on the presence of fungi in the air cleaner HEPA filters from ADCPHs in Korea.
Air Filters* ; Alternaria ; Aspergillus ; Asthma ; Child* ; Cladosporium ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Fungi* ; Humans ; Korea ; Penicillium ; Stem Cells ; Trichoderma

PURPOSE: To define the clinical features and pattern of failure and to evaluate the results of radiation treatment in of adenosquamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From Jun. 1981 to Dec. 1997, 43 patients with adenosquamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix were retrospectively analyzed external radiation treatment and HDR-ICR from Yonsei cancer center and Wonju cristian hospital. The median age was 51. Stage distribution according to FIGO were stage 1b in 10, 2a in 5, 2b in 18, 3b in 9, 4a in 1. Median follow-up period was 41 months. RESULTS: Overall survival rate and disease free survival rate were 57.2% and 60.2%. Complete response rate was 86.0%. Locoregional failure was observed in seven patients. CONCLUSION: Major pattern of failure was locoregional failure. Adenosquamous cell carcinoma was not more aggressive than other pathologic types.
Cervix Uteri* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

The calculation of dose distribution in multiple arc stereotactic radiotherapy is a three-dimensional problem and, therefore, the three-dimensional dose calculation algorithm is important and the algorithm's accuracy and reliability should be confirmed experimentally. The aim of this study is to verify the dose distribution of stereotactic radiosurgery experimentally and to investigate the effect of the beam quality, the number of arcs of radiation, and the tertiary collimation on the resulting dose distribution. Film dosimetry with phantom measurements was done to get the three-dimensional orthogonal isodose distribution. All experiments were carried out with a 6 MV X-ray, except for the study of the effects of beam energy on dose distribution, which was done for X-ray energies of 6 and 15 MV. The irradiation technique was from 4 to 11 arcs at intervals of from 15 to 45 degrees between each arc with various field sizes with additional circular collimator. The dose distributions of square field with linear accelerator collimator compared with the dose distributions obtained using circular field with tertiary collimator. The parameters used for comparing the results were the shape of the isodose curve, dose fall-offs from 90% to 50 % and from 90% to 20% isodose line for the steepest and shallowest profile, and A= (90% idsose area) /( 50% isodose area - 90% isodose area (modified from Chierego)). This ratio may be considered as being proportional to the sparing of normal tissue around the target volume. The effect of beam energy in 6 and 15 MV X-ray indicated that the shapes of isodose cuties were the same. The value of ratio A and the steepest and shallowest dose fall-offs for 6 MV X-ray was minimally better than that for 15 MV X-ray. These data illustrated that an increase in the dimensions of the field from 10 to 28 mm in diameter did not significantly change the isodose distribution. There was no significant difference in dose gradient and the shape of isodose cutie regardless of the number of arcs for field sizes of 10, 21, and 32 mm in diameter The shape of isodose cuties was more circular in circular field and square in square field. And the dose gradient for the circular field was slightly better than that for the square field.
Film Dosimetry ; Particle Accelerators* ; Radiosurgery* ; Radiotherapy

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast*

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Drug Therapy*

Yonsei Cancer Center developed an RF(Radiofrequency) capacitive type heating device, GHT-RF8(Greenytherm) in cooperation with Green Cross Medical Corp., Korea in 1986 for the first time in Korea. Cooperative clinical studies of hyperthermia for the treatment of cancer using GHT-RF8 were conducted by Yonsei Cancer Center in collaboration with the Presbyterian Medical Center, Chonju, Korea. A total of forty patients with various histologically proven malignant tumors, including superficial (N = 13) and deep-seated tumors (N = 27), were treated with this newly developed heating device in conjunction with radiotherapy (N = 38) or chemotherapy (N = 2) at two different institutes between October 1986 and September 1987. These patients were locally far advanced or recurrent cases and considered to be refractory to conventional cancer treatment modalities. Radiotherapy was given in 200cGy per day, five times a week fractionations with a total tumor dose of 50-60Gy in 5-6 weeks. Within an hour after radiotherapy, the RF capacitive type of hyperthermia was given two times a week for a total of 4-10 treatment sessions and an attempt was made to maintain the tumor temperature at 41-45 degrees C for 30-60 minutes. Of forty patients treated, 14 patients with deep-seated tumors showed complete response and 20 patients showed partial response. The overall response rate was 85% (34 out of 40 patients) and only 6 patients showed no response. Complications from this treatment were mainly burns, superficial first degree burn in 2 cases, second degree in 4 cases and subcutaneous fat necrosis was observed in 2 cases.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Equipment Design ; Female ; Heating/*instrumentation ; Human ; Hyperthermia, Induced/adverse effects/*instrumentation ; Male ; Middle Age ; Neoplasms/radionuclide imaging/therapy ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A total of 93 patients with rectal cancer treated with radiotherapy at department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center between January 1974 and December 1983 are retrospectively analysed. The patients are divided into three groups as follows: I. Postoperative radiotherapy, II. Pstoperative recurrent, III. Unresectable or Inoperable group. In postoperative radiotherapy group, overall 5 year survival rate is 34.8% and prognostic factors are presence of obstruction and degree of differentiation. In postoperative recurrent group, overall 5 year survival rate is 34.8% and prognostic factors are presence of obstruction and degree of differentiation. In postoperative recurrent group, overall 2 year survival rate is 7.4% with median survival of 13 months and prognostic factors are RT responsiveness and sex, and the local failure rate is 22.7%. In unresectable or inoperable group, overall 2 year survival rate is 19.8% with median survival of 12.6 months and prognostic factors are RT responsiveness and RT dose. The complications for RT are not significant and are acceptable in all patients.
Humans ; Radiation Oncology ; Radiotherapy* ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

From January 1970 through December 1984, 15 patients with sinonasal Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma combined to the head and neck were treated by external irradiation. 13 patients were stage IE and 2 were stage IIE by Ann Arbor Classification. However, when using TNM system, 7 were locally advanced T3, T4 lesions. All patients had follow up from 3.7 to 16 years with the median follow-up of 8.5 years. The overall actuarial 5-year survival rates were 25%, 28% for IE and 0% for IIE. Total tumor dose varied from 40 to 68 Gy. 100% complete response with a total tumor dose of more than 55 Gy and 73% complete response with less than 55 Gy. When the disease was staged using the TNM (AJC) system, the five-year disease free survival for T1 and T2 patients was 50% as compared with 14% for T3 and T4. Failure rate by stage was 33% (2/6) for T1 and T2, 86% (6/7) for T3 and T4, and 100% (2/2) for IIE. The results suggest that 1. Higher CR could be obtained with a total tumor dose of more than 55 Gy. 2. Use of TNM staging system is as important as Ann arbor in management of sinonasal NHL. 3. The addition of combination chemotherapy should be considered for T3, T4 and IIE the sinonasal Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma although the disease is limited to head and neck.
Classification ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin* ; Neck ; Neoplasm Staging ; Radiotherapy ; Survival Rate