Platinum nanoparticles (PtNP) exhibit remarkable antioxidant activity. There is growing evidence concerning a positive relationship between oxidative stress and bone loss, suggesting that PtNP could protect against bone loss by modulating oxidative stress. Intragastric administration of PtNP reduced ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss with a decreased level of activity and number of osteoclast (OC) in vivo. PtNP inhibited OC formation by impairing the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL) signaling. This impairment was due to a decreased activation of nuclear factor-kappaB and a reduced level of nuclear factor in activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 1 (NFAT2). PtNP lowered RANKL-induced long lasting reactive oxygen species as well as intracellular concentrations of Ca2+ oscillation. Our data clearly highlight the potential of PtNP for the amelioration of bone loss after estrogen deficiency by attenuated OC formation.
Animals ; Metal Nanoparticles/*administration & dosage ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NFATC Transcription Factors/metabolism ; *Osteoclasts/drug effects/physiology ; Osteoporosis/drug therapy ; Ovariectomy/adverse effects ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Platinum/*administration & dosage ; *RANK Ligand/genetics/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Signal Transduction

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-related 2 (TR2, HVEM or TNFRSF-14) plays an important role in immune responses, however, the mechanisms regulating its expression are unclear. To understand the control of TR2 gene expression, we studied the upstream region of the gene. Gel supershift assays revealed inducible binding of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) to a putative NFAT site within the TR2 promoter. Furthermore, cotransfection of a dominant negative NFAT construct, or siRNA for NFAT, resulted in increased expression of a TR2 reporter gene. Our findings demonstrate that NFAT negatively regulates TR2 expression in activated T cells.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Down-Regulation ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Molecular Sequence Data ; NFATC Transcription Factors/*physiology ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 14/*biosynthesis ; T-Lymphocytes/*metabolism

Enteric duplication cysts are uncommon congenital anomalies whose embryogenesis remains unknown. We report here on an isolated enteric duplication cyst, that presents as an inguinal hernia. A 21-year-old woman was admitted with a month-long history of a palpable mass in the left groin. Radiologically, a computed tomography scan revealed a 3.5 x 2.5 cm sized cystic mass in subcutaneous layers of the left suprapubic area. Microscopically, the cystic wall resembled gut wall. The wall was composed of two distinct muscle layers with the presence of Auerbach's plexus. On examining the entire sections of the cyst wall very carefully, no epithelial lining was found on the inner surface. The submucosa was slightly fibrotic. The diagnosis was a completely isolated enteric duplication cyst.
Embryonic Development ; Female ; Groin ; Hernia, Inguinal ; Humans ; Muscles ; Myenteric Plexus ; Pregnancy ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Epigenetic alterations in certain genes are now known as at least important as genetic mutation in pathogenesis of cancer. Especially abnormal hypermethylation in or near promoter region of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) are known to result in gene silencing and loss of gene function eventually. The authors tried to search for new lung cancer-specific TSGs which have CpG islands and HpaII sites, and are thought to be involved in carcinogenesis by epigenetic mechanism. METHODS: Tumor tissue and corresponding adjacent normal tissue were obtained from 10 patients who diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and underwent surgery in Konyang university hospital in 2005. Methylation profiles of promoter region of 21 genes in tumor tissue & non-tumor tissue were examined with HpaII-MspI methylation microarray (Methyl-Scan DNA chip(R), Genomic tree, Inc, South Korea). The rates of hypermethylation were compared in tumor and non-tumor group, and as a normal control, we obtained lung tissue from two young patients with pneumothorax during bullectomies, methylation profiles were examined in the same way. RESULTS: Among the 21 genes, 10 genes were commonly methylated in tumor, non-tumor, and control group. The 6 genes of APC, AR, RAR-b, HTR1B, EPHA3, and CFTR, among the rest of 11 genes were not methylated in control, and more frequently hypermethylated in tumor tissue than non-tumor tissue. CONCLUSION: In the present study, HTR1B, EPHA3, and CFTR are suggested as possible novel TSGs of NSCLC by epigenetic mechanism.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; CpG Islands ; DNA ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenomics ; Gene Silencing ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Lung ; Methylation ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Pneumothorax ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

PURPOSE: Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is a multi-enzyme molecule that plays a role in the de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids. FAS is expressed at low levels in most normal human tissues because, cells preferentially utilize circulating lipids for the synthesis of new structural lipids. Recent studies have demonstrated that high levels of FAS occur in a subset of human cancers (such as breast, ovary, and prostate cancer etc) and these high FAS levels are associated with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of FAS in breast cancer and to examine the relationship between FAS and the clinicopathological data. METHODS: We reviewed clinical profiles [clinical data and short term outcome (recurrence)] of 67 breast cancer patients by reviewing their medical records. The average followed-up period was 22.6 month. FAS expressions were evaluated by immunohistochemistry on the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. RESULTS: FAS expression of breast cancer was nonspecifically high, but there was no statistical importance between the FAS expression, the clinicopathological data and the short term recurrence (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The overexpression of FAS in breast cancer patients may not be a reliable marker for a poor prognosis. However, further studies are required in order to define the biological significance and the specific role of FAS in breast cancer development, growth, and invasion. Also, inhibition of FAS may be a target treatment for breast cancer.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Fatty Acids ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Medical Records ; Ovary ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is a multi-enzyme molecule that plays a role in the de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids. FAS is expressed at low levels in most normal human tissues because, cells preferentially utilize circulating lipids for the synthesis of new structural lipids. Recent studies have demonstrated that high levels of FAS occur in a subset of human cancers (such as breast, ovary, and prostate cancer etc) and these high FAS levels are associated with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of FAS in breast cancer and to examine the relationship between FAS and the clinicopathological data. METHODS: We reviewed clinical profiles [clinical data and short term outcome (recurrence)] of 67 breast cancer patients by reviewing their medical records. The average followed-up period was 22.6 month. FAS expressions were evaluated by immunohistochemistry on the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. RESULTS: FAS expression of breast cancer was nonspecifically high, but there was no statistical importance between the FAS expression, the clinicopathological data and the short term recurrence (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The overexpression of FAS in breast cancer patients may not be a reliable marker for a poor prognosis. However, further studies are required in order to define the biological significance and the specific role of FAS in breast cancer development, growth, and invasion. Also, inhibition of FAS may be a target treatment for breast cancer.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Fatty Acids ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Medical Records ; Ovary ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: The limit and the optimal method of the cryopreservation of platelets have not been determined. Moreover, the functional changes platelets after cryopreservation were not clearly defined. This study was conducted to determine the limit and optimal method for cryopreservation of platelet concentrates. METHODS: We compared the recovery, expression of membrane GpIb, GpIIb/IIIa, and aggregatory function of the platelets preserved in three different conditions. Platelet samples were collected from four healthy volunteer donors by apheresis, and placed in 22degrees C agitator for standard preservation. For cryopreservation, after treating 5% DMSO, platelets were either inserted directly in -80degrees C freezer or in liquid nitrogen after computer-controlled rate freezing. After storage for 5 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks, platelets were thawed and analyzed for the evaluation of in vitro functions. RESULTS: Platelets preserved at 22degrees C or cryopreserved with each condition displayed equivalent recovery (90%). With each cryopreservation procedures, platelets showed moderate loss of GpIb and retained more than 90% of GpIIb/IIIa in comparison with fresh platelets. At the third week, loss of GpIb in the directly frozen platelets was augmented compared with those of controlled rate frozen group. The aggregatory response to ristocetin began to decrease drastically after storage for 5 days in platelets frozen by each procedures and to less than 5% at 12 weeks of storage. However, controlled rate frozen platelets retained more aggregatory response to ristocetin and surface GpIb expression than those of directly frozen platelets at 3, 4, 12 weeks of storage. CONCLUSION: This study showed the possibility of moderate preservation of in vitro functions of frozen-thawed platelets after 12 weeks of storage compared with those of the liquid stored 5-day old platelets.
Blood Component Removal ; Blood Platelets ; Cryopreservation* ; Dihydroergotamine ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; Freezing ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Membranes ; Nitrogen ; Ristocetin ; Tissue Donors

OBJECTIVES: We report a case of lung cancer (small cell carcinoma) occurring in a worker exposed to coke oven emissions. METHODS: We examined the chest CT and pathologic findings of the patient. We reviewed previous environmental measurements for coke oven emissions at the workers place of employment. Also we measured the airborne concentrations for coke oven emissions and total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the work area. Finally, we analyzed the 1-hydroxypyrene and 2-naphthol concentrations in the subjects urine and compared this with student controls. RESULTS: This case was a 56-year-old male who had worked in a coke oven plant within a steel manufacturing factory for 21 years (1977-1998). The airborne concentrations of coke oven emissions at the worksite were above the permissible exposure level (0.2 mg/m3) in 45 cases (33.1%) among 136 workers. The concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene and 2-naphthol in the subjects urine were statistically significantly elevated as compared with those of controls (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that the lung cancer occurring in this patient was as an occupational disease due to exposure to coke oven emissions. To prevent occupational cancer in coke oven plant workers, we must remodel the engineering procedure, begin comprehensive medical surveillance, educate workers on risks and the benefits of smoking cessation, and increase awareness of safety regulations in the workplace.
Coke* ; Employment ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Health ; Plants ; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic ; Smoking Cessation ; Social Control, Formal ; Steel ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Workplace

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is a relatively rare condition, characterized by multiple gas-filled cysts of varying size in the wall of gastrointestinal tract. Although the etiology of pneumatosis intestinalis remains uncertain, the possibility that both the gas-forming bacteria and mechanical theories develop pneumocysts has recently been advocated. We experienced a case of pneumotosis cystoides intestinalis found by colonoscopy in a 31-year old woman with intermittent abdominal pain.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Bacteria ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis*

No abstract available.
Amniocentesis* ; Cytogenetics*