This study reports the first case of Capillaria hepatica infection in a nutria in Korea. Ten nutrias, captured near the Nakdong River, were submitted to our laboratory for necropsy. White-yellowish nodules were found in the liver of 1 of the nutrias at necropsy. Histologically, the lesions were granulomatous, and infiltrations of lipid-laden macrophages, eosinophils, and several multinucleated giant cells were observed. The lesions consisted of numerous eggs and necrotic hepatocytes. The eggs were lemon-shaped and had polar plugs at the ends of both long sides. The eggs were morphologically identified as those of C. hepatica. Worldwide, C. hepatica infection in nutrias is very rare. Nutrias are a kind of livestock, as well as wildlife; therefore, an epidemiological study for parasitic infections needs to be conducted.
Animals ; Capillaria/*isolation & purification ; Enoplida Infections/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Female ; Male ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Rodent Diseases/*parasitology ; Rodentia

Corynebacterium (C.) bovis infection in nude mice causes hyperkeratosis and weight loss and has been reported worldwide but not in Korea. In 2011, nude mice from an animal facility in Korea were found to have white flakes on their dorsal skin. Histopathological testing revealed that the mice had hyperkeratosis and Gram-positive bacteria were found in the skin. We identified isolated bacteria from the skin lesions as C. bovis using PCR and 16S rRNA sequencing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of C. bovis infection in nude mice from Korea.
Animals ; Corynebacterium/*isolation & purification ; Corynebacterium Infections/*microbiology/pathology ; *Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Republic of Korea ; Rodent Diseases/*microbiology/pathology ; Skin Diseases, Bacterial/*microbiology/pathology

Increased fat intake is known to be a major cause of prostate cancer. In this study, we investigated the effect of dietary high fat on prostate intraepithelial neoplasia using transgenic adenocarcinoma mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice. Six-week-old male TRAMP mice were fed AIN93G (control group, 4.0 kcal/kg, n=6) and AIN93G-HFD (experimental group, 4.8 kcal/kg, n=7) for 10 weeks. Prostate histopathology, urogenital tract (UGT) weight, epididymal white adipose tissue weight, argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) counts, and serum leptin levels were examined. AIN93G-HFD fed group showed progressed neoplastic lesions in the prostate (P<0.05) compared to AIN93G fed group. AIN93G-HFD intake resulted in a increase in the weight of UGT (P<0.05) and epididymal white adipose tissue. The number of Ag-NOR positive dots significantly increased in each prostate lobe and final serum leptin levels in AIN93G-HFD fed group were about twice those of AIN93G fed group (P<0.05). Dietary high fat was related to the prostate cancer progression in the early stage of TRAMP mice and increased serum leptin levels, suggesting that the regulation of dietary components could delay the progression of prostate cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adipose Tissue, White ; Animals ; Humans ; Leptin ; Male ; Mice ; Nucleolus Organizer Region ; Prostate ; Prostatic Neoplasms

PURPOSE: Type III 5-alpha reductase (SRD5A3; steroid 5-alpha reductase 3) may be associated with the progression of prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of our study was to determine whether the length of AC repeats in the SRD5A3 gene is associated with the risk of PCa and the expression of androgen receptor (AR) protein in Korean men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared the length of AC repeats in the short tandem repeat (STR) region of the SRD5A3 gene in 68 PCa patients and 81 control subjects by genotyping. A total of 55 patients in the PCa group underwent radical prostatectomy. We evaluated the expression of AR protein by using Western blotting and tested the association between the type of AC repeats in the SRD5A3 gene and AR protein expression and clinical and pathologic parameters. RESULTS: The short type of STR had less than 21 copies of AC repeats in the SRD5A3 gene. The SS type (short and short type) of STR of the SRD5A3 gene was 2.2 times as likely to occur in PCa patients as in controls (odds ratio, 2.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.14 to 4.31; p=0.019). However, AC repeats of the SRD5A3 gene were not associated with AR protein expression or clinical or pathologic parameters in PCa samples. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the short AC repeats of SRD5A3 polymorphism are associated with an increased risk of PCa. SRD5A3 polymorphism may contribute to a genetic predisposition for PCa.
3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase ; Blotting, Western ; Coat Protein Complex I ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Oxidoreductases ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Prostate ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Receptors, Androgen

PURPOSE: Most studies have reported the effects of short-term double-J ureteral stenting on patient symptoms. We reviewed the changes in symptoms and the factors associated with tolerance due to long-term stenting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated 20 patients (mean age+/-SD, 58.3+/-11.8 years). The patients consisted of those with cervical cancer (n=12), retroperitoneal fibrosis (n=5), colon cancer (n=1), rectal cancer (n=1), and endometrial cancer (n=1). A questionnaire that included domains for urinary symptoms and quality of life (QoL) scores for evaluation of urinary symptoms (International Prostate Symptom Score, or IPSS), a 10-cm linear visual analogue scale (VAS) score rated from 0 (no pain) to 10 (unendurable pain) for tolerance, and uroflowmetry were performed at every replacement. RESULTS: Frequency and urgency on the storage symptom score, residual urine sensations, and intermittency on the voiding symptom score were significantly aggravated at the initial stenting (p<0.05), but the sum of the storage symptom score and urgency improved with time (p<0.05). The quality of life score and total IPSS score also changed significantly (p<0.05). However, although the QoL score and the total IPSS score after stenting were not decreased to less than before stenting, the QoL score was significantly decreased at 9 months (p<0.05), and the total IPSS score was significantly decreased at 12 months (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The symptoms were acutely aggravated at first, but the results showed increased tolerance with time. Adaptation of the bladder and desensitization of the patients may be important factors in the increased tolerance.
Colonic Neoplasms ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Humans ; Prostate ; Quality of Life ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Retroperitoneal Fibrosis ; Sensation ; Stents ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

PURPOSE: N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a potent antioxidant, and a free radical scavenger. We investigated the possible effects of NAC after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) of rat bladder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: I/R injury was induced by abdominal aorta clamping and ischemia for 60minutes, followed by 120minutes reperfusion. Twenty rats were divided into four groups: sham operation + saline group (S+S), sham operation + NAC group (S+NAC), I/R + saline group (I/R+S), I/R + NAC group (I/R+NAC). Blood levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined using the free oxygen radical tests (FORT). Superoxide generation was measured based on lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was analyzed in order to measure lipid peroxidation. RESULTS: In I/R+S group, the isometric contractile responses to carbachol were significant lower than other groups and were reversed by the pretreatment with NAC. The level of FORT and MDA showed a marked increase in I/R+S group compared with S+S group. NADPH-stimulated superoxide production was also significantly increased. I/R+NAC decreased these parameters compared with I/R+S group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that treatment with NAC reversed the low contractile responses of rat bladder and prevented oxidative stress following I/R.
Acetylcysteine ; Animals ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Carbachol ; Constriction ; Ischemia ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Luminescence ; Malondialdehyde ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxygen ; Panax* ; Rats* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Reperfusion ; Superoxides ; Urinary Bladder*

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. PURPOSE: First, to examine the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and the halo phenomenon, and second, to investigate risk factors predisposing to the halo phenomenon and its correlation with clinical outcomes. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The few in vivo studies regarding the relationship between pedicle screw stability and BMD have shown conflicting results. METHODS: Forty-four female patients who underwent spine fusion surgery due to spinal stenosis were included in this study. The halo phenomenon and fusion state were evaluated through plain radiographs performed immediately after surgery and through the final outpatient follow-up examination. BMD, osteoarthritis grade in the hip and knee joints, and surgical outcome were also evaluated. RESULTS: BMD was not related to the halo phenomenon, but age, absence of osteoarthritis in the knee, and non-union state were found to be significant risk factors for the halo phenomenon. However, the radiological halo phenomenon did not correlate with clinical outcome (visual analogue scale for back pain and leg pain). CONCLUSIONS: The halo phenomenon is a simple phenomenon that can develop during follow-up after pedicle screw fixation. It does not influence clinical outcomes, and thus it is thought that hydroxyapatite coating screws, expandable screws, cement augmentation, and additional surgeries are not required, if their purpose is to prevent the halo phenomenon.
Back Pain ; Bone Density ; Durapatite ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Humans ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Leg ; Osteoarthritis ; Outpatients ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine

STUDY DESIGN: In vitro experimental study OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of a synovial supernatant on the cell viability, osteogenic phenotype, mRNA expression of the types collagen and various transcriptional factors on osteogenesis in ligamentum flavum (LF) cells stimulated with synovial fluid from a degenerated facet joint. LITERATURE REVIEW: In degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, hypertrophied LF or osteoarthritic hypertrophy of a facet joint often causes neurogenic claudication. The facet joint is a synovial joint with hyaline cartilage on each side. Therefore, osteoarthritis of a facet joint eventually occurs with aging and other degenerative conditions of the spine. In lumbar spinal degeneration, inflammatory mediators or cytokines are released from the facet joint tissue, which consequently affects the adjacent LF because the LF covers posterolateral aspect of the spinal canal near facet joints. However, there are no reports on the relationship between a degenerated facet joint fluid and the LF in the lumbar spine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: LF surgical specimens were obtained from patients with a lumbar spine stenosis, and the cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion. Each of the synovium tissues were weighed and recorded. Each tissue was cut into small pieces with a pair of scissors and then washed 3 times with PBS. The washed tissue pieces were then cultured for 96 hr at 37degrees C, 5% CO2 in DMEM/F-12-0.1% FBS with a density of 200 mg/ml medium. The supernatant was collected after 96 hr. In order to measure quantitatively the proliferation of cells, the AlamarBlue assay was used. The total cellular RNA was extracted from the cells and amplification reactions specific to the following types of cDNA were performed: the osteogenic master transcription factors, Dlx5, Runx2, osterix, and types collagen and osteocalcin. Alkaline phosphatase staining for the biochemical assay and western blotting for osteocalcin protein expression were performed. RESULTS: Human LF cells cultured with the supernatant from the facet synovium showed a slightly stronger AlamarBlue staining than the intensity of the control culture. RT-PCR revealed the upregulation of the osteogenic master transcription factors, Dlx5, Runx2, and osterix in the synovium supernatant group from one hour to 72 hours, and an increase in osteocalcin, types collagen I, III, V, XI levels from one hour to one week. LF cells cultured with the supernatant from the facet synovium showed positive staining for alkaline phosphatase. The level of the osteocalcin protein in the LF cells cultured with the supernatant from the facet synovium was higher than the control group. Conclusions: The supernatant of the facet joint from patients with degenerative spinal stenosis affects LF cells by increasing the level of cellular proliferation, upregulating the mRNA expression of osteocalcin, types of collagen, osteogenic transcription factors, positive alkaline phosphatase staining, and osteocalcin protein expression. Therefore, degenerated synovial fluid from the facet joint is an important mechanism of LF hypertrophy and ossification.
Aging ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Collagen ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Cytokines ; Digestion ; DNA, Complementary ; Humans ; Hyaline Cartilage ; Hypertrophy* ; Joints ; Ligamentum Flavum* ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis ; Phenotype ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine ; Synovial Fluid* ; Synovial Membrane ; Transcription Factors ; Up-Regulation ; Zygapophyseal Joint

BACKGROUND: BRCA1 (breast-cancer gene 1) is a tumor suppressor gene that accounts for nearly all families of both early onset breast and ovarian cancer and about 45% of families with breast cancer only. Sporadic nonhereditary breast cancer is recognized as the most common form of this malignancy. However, presence of germ-line mutations in the BRCA1 gene of these tumors is an infrequent event. The BRCA1 protein includes a ring domain and an acidic domain, both of which are characteristics of certain transcription factors, as well as two putative nuclear localization signals (NLS) that interact with importin-alpha. The normal BRCA1 protein is located in the nucleus of most breast-cell types whereas the BRCA1 protein of breast cancer cells is aberrantly localized in the cytoplasm. This mislocation of the BRCA1 protein in breast cancer cells may be due to defects in the NLS receptor-mediated pathway for the nuclear import of the BRCA1 gene product. Identification of importin-alpha mutations as a cellular protein responsible for the nuclear import of BRCA1 in breast-cancer cell lines and primary breast cancers is the focus of this investigation. METHODS: A series of 15 surgical samples of breast cancer and 3 samples of breast-cancer cell lines (Hs578T, ZR75-1, MCF-7) was assayed for the presence of the deletion mutant in importin-alpha by using both RT-PCR amplification of importin-alpha transcripts and sequencing analysis. RESULTS: Three of the 15 primary breast cancers and 1 of the 3 breast-cancer cell lines showing deletions in importin-alpha transcripts produced two different truncated transcripts. 1208 bp deletions were observed in transcripts from breast cancer (T-1, T-3) and ZR75-1, which is specified by the nucleotide 251-1458 of the transcript. Another transcript encoded by primary breast cancer (T-2) included a 1312 bp deletion in the nucleotide 61-1372 of the transcript. CONCLUSIONS: The deletions eliminated part of the importin-alpha transcript segment encoding the putative NLS-binding domain but not the importin-beta binding domain, suggesting that these deletion mutants could not bind to NLS of the BRCA1 protein. These results suggest that the composite effects of mislocationof the BRCA1 protein by deletion of the NLS-binding domain in importin-alpha may contribute to tumorigenesis in sporadic breast cancer.
Active Transport, Cell Nucleus ; alpha Karyopherins* ; Alternative Splicing ; beta Karyopherins ; BRCA1 Protein ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Line ; Cytoplasm ; Genes, BRCA1 ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Humans ; Nuclear Localization Signals ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Transcription Factors

Furosemide acts primarily on the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle and inhibits the chloride transport in this site, which is the main mechanism of diuretic action of furosemide However, the precise molecular mechanism of diuretic action of furosemide is still unknown. Recent studies have shown that cGMP might be involved in diuretic effect of furosemide. In this study, the effects of furosemide on the renal tissue level of cGMP in vivo and on the renal guanylate cyclase in vitro were investigated. Also, the influence of aspirin on these effects was examined. The results were as follows: 1. The renal tissue level of cGMP was increased after administration of furosemide, but decreased after administration of aspirin. A combined administration of furosemide and aspirin increased the renal tissue level of cGMP, but the degree of elevation was less than those of the furosemide group. 2. The renal guanylate cyclase activity was slightly increased by furosemide, but this increase was not significant. The renal guanylate cyclase activity was significantly increased by arachidonic acid. Furosemide potentiated the effect of arachidonic acid on renal guanylate cyclase activity, which was inhibited by aspirin. These results indicate that effect of furosemide on renal tissue level of cGMP may be indirect effect that furosemide activates guanylate cyclase by means of increasing prostaglandin synthesis.
Animals ; Arachidonic Acid ; Aspirin ; Diuretics ; Extremities ; Furosemide* ; Guanylate Cyclase* ; Loop of Henle ; Rats*