PURPOSE: Previously, we reported the presence of virus-encoded microRNAs (miRNAs) in the urine of prostate cancer (CaP) patients. In this study, we investigated the expression of two herpes virus-encoded miRNAs in prostate tissue. METHODS: A total of 175 tissue samples from noncancerous benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 248 tissue samples from patients with CaP and BPH, and 50 samples from noncancerous surrounding tissues from these same patients were analyzed for the expression of two herpes virus-encoded miRNAs by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunocytochemistry using nanoparticles as molecular beacons. RESULTS: Real-time reverse transcription-PCR results revealed significantly higher expression of hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2-miRH9- 5p in surrounding noncancerous and CaP tissues than that in BPH tissue (each comparison, P<0.001). Of note, these miRNA were expressed equivalently in the CaP tissues and surrounding noncancerous tissues. Moreover, immunocytochemistry clearly demonstrated a significant enrichment of both hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2-miR-H9 beacon-labeled cells in CaP and surrounding noncancerous tissue compared to that in BPH tissue (each comparison, P<0.05 for hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2- miR-H9). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that increased expression of hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2-miR-H95p might be associated with tumorigenesis in the prostate. Further studies will be required to elucidate the role of these miRNAs with respect to CaP and herpes viral infections.
Carcinogenesis ; Herpesviridae ; Humans ; Hyperplasia* ; Immunohistochemistry ; MicroRNAs ; Nanoparticles ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

In this article, a part of fund and grant supports was omitted unintentionally.

PURPOSE: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in biological fluids are potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and assessment of urological diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of the study was to identify and validate urinary cell-free miRNAs that can segregate patients with PCa from those with BPH. METHODS: In total, 1,052 urine, 150 serum, and 150 prostate tissue samples from patients with PCa or BPH were used in the study. A urine-based miRNA microarray analysis suggested the presence of differentially expressed urinary miRNAs in patients with PCa, and these were further validated in three independent PCa cohorts, using a quantitative reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction analysis. RESULTS: The expression levels of hsa-miR-615-3p, hsv1-miR-H18, hsv2-miR-H9-5p, and hsa-miR-4316 were significantly higher in urine samples of patients with PCa than in those of BPH controls. In particular, herpes simplex virus (hsv)-derived hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2-miR-H9-5p showed better diagnostic performance than did the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for patients in the PSA gray zone. Furthermore, a combination of urinary hsv2-miR-H9-5p with serum PSA showed high sensitivity and specificity, providing a potential clinical benefit by reducing unnecessary biopsies. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that hsv-encoded hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2-miR-H9-5p are significantly associated with PCa and can facilitate early diagnosis of PCa for patients within the serum PSA gray zone.
Biomarkers ; Biopsy ; Cohort Studies ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Herpes Simplex ; Humans ; Microarray Analysis ; MicroRNAs* ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Simplexvirus ; Urologic Diseases

PURPOSE: There was a global increase in the prevalence of oseltamivir-resistant influenza viruses during the 2007-2008 influenza season. This study was conducted to investigate the occurrence and characteristics of oseltamivir-resistant influenza viruses during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 influenza seasons among patients who were treated with oseltamivir (group A) and those that did not receive oseltamivir (group B). METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 321 pediatric patients who were hospitalized because of influenza during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 influenza seasons. Drug resistance tests were conducted on influenza viruses isolated from 91 patients. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the clinical characteristics of groups A and B during both seasons. Influenza A/H1N1, isolated from both groups A and B during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 periods, was not resistant to zanamivir. However, phenotypic analysis of the virus revealed a high oseltamivir IC50 range and that H275Y substitution of the neuraminidase (NA) gene and partial variation of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene did not affect its antigenicity to the HA vaccine even though group A had a shorter hospitalization duration and fewer lower respiratory tract complications than group B. In addition, there was no significant difference in the clinical manifestations between oseltamivir-susceptible and oseltamivir-resistant strains of influenza A/H1N1. CONCLUSION: Establishment of guidelines to efficiently treat influenza with oseltamivir, a commonly used drug for treating influenza in Korean pediatric patients, and a treatment strategy with a new therapeutic agent is required.
Child ; Drug Resistance ; Hemagglutinins ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Neuraminidase ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Oseltamivir ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory System ; Seasons ; Viruses ; Zanamivir

Pheochromocytoma is derived from the chromaffin tissue. The typical finding of pheochromocytoma is paroxysmal hypertension accompanied with various signs and symptoms that are due to the excess of catecholamines or other bioactive substances. Yet the diagnosis is sometimes difficult to make because its clinical presentation is quite variable. Especially, hemoptysis is a very rare symptom, so the diagnosis is often missed or delayed. Without making the correct diagnosis and then subsequently administering treatment, the condition may be fatal. We herein report on a 68 year-old woman who was admitted because of abdominal pain and hemoptysis. The initial radiologic findings suggested pulmonary edema with alveolar hemorrhage. The urine catecholamine levels were elevated and she developed catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy. We performed bronchial arterial embolization and we administered alpha blocker medication for controlling the hemoptysis and hypertension. After the temporary symptomatic improvement, her clinical course was aggravated by pneumonia and pulmonary edema. In spite of performing definitive surgery for pheochromocytoma, she died of postoperative hemodynamic instability.
Abdominal Pain ; Cardiomyopathies ; Catecholamines ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Hemoptysis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Pheochromocytoma ; Pneumonia ; Pulmonary Edema

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Tympanic membrane perforation is an important clinical problem found in various populations of the world. In large number of cases, acute traumatic perforations heal spontaneously, and in the healing process, stem cells appear to play an important role. However, no studies have been reported regarding somatic stem cells in the tympanic membrane. Herein, we tried to show that guinea pig's tympanic membrane contains cells that display the characteristic features of stem cells. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The tympanic membrane was obtained from the guinea pig. The cells were cultured in a medium with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF). Proliferating cells were checked with stem cell markers, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and nestin. Differentiated cells from stem cells are checked with betaIII tubulin and S-100. RESULTS: We observed that some of the cultured cells from the tympanic membrane were stained with both stem cell markers, BrdU and nestin. And we observed that these cells differentiated into neuron and gilal cells, which expressed betaIII tubulin and S-100, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the tympanic membrane of guinea pigs may have neural stem cells. Further study is needed for finding the origin of stem cells.
Adult ; Adult Stem Cells ; Animals ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; Cells, Cultured ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; Guinea ; Guinea Pigs ; Humans ; Intermediate Filament Proteins ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; Neural Stem Cells ; Neurons ; Stem Cells ; Tubulin ; Tympanic Membrane ; Tympanic Membrane Perforation

Recently, intra-Muscular Stimulation (IMS) therapy is being increasingly used for musculoskeletal pain. This procedure is generally regarded as a safe procedure for the general public. Some cases of iatrogenic pneumothorax caused by acupuncture have been reported in the medical literature. However, a case of an IMS therapy associated pneumothorax has not reported. We experienced two cases of iatrogenic pneumothorax after IMS therapy. A 62 year-old man received IMS therapy on the right shoulder due to posterior neck pain. After IMS therapy, acute dyspnea and chest discomfort developed. The other patient was a 74 year-old woman who also received IMS therapy. This patient experienced a nonproductive cough and acute dyspnea after the treatment. As the popularity of this form of alternative medicine increases, we might expect to see more cases of iatrogenic pneumothorax. Physicians should be aware of the adverse events associated with IMS therapy.
Acupuncture ; Aged ; Complementary Therapies ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Musculoskeletal Pain ; Neck Pain ; Pneumothorax* ; Shoulder ; Thorax

OBJECTIVE: Vestibulo-collic reflex (VCR) has been thought to be a simple and reliable test in evaluating the vestibular function. But it can only be examined by actively contracting the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) and it would be impossible to conduct the examination without the cooperation of the subject. The aim of this study was to demonstrate a new method for VCR in the absence of the subject's cooperation. METHOD: Records were collected from 20 volunteers. Each subject was properly positioned on the bed with the head flexed, ipsilaterally bent and contralaterally rotated. An active electrode was placed over the belly of the SCM. 100 dB clicks were delivered through headphones. We compared the active contraction and passive positioning of the SCM in terms of the P1 latency and amplitude. RESULTS: Vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) were recorded without actively contracting the SCMs for all the subjects by using our new method. There was no difference in P1 latency and amplitude between the active contraction and passive positioning of the SCM. CONCLUSION: With our new method, VEMPs can be recorded without actively contracting the SCM. It may be useful for evaluating the vestibular function of children and patients who cannot cooperate.
Child ; Electrodes ; Head ; Humans ; Reflex* ; Vestibular Function Tests ; Volunteers

BACKGROUND: Sedation with propofol during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) has been increased. However, the use of propofol during EGD may have significant side effects such as hypoxemia and hypotension. We studied the dose of propofol for adequate sedation without side effects during EGD. METHODS: From June to August 2003, 46 healthy persons who visited St. Carollo hospital health management center for diagnostic EGD were enrolled for this study. Twenty four persons (Group A) were given a initial loading dose of propofol 60 mg (in person below 60 kg by body weight) and 80 mg (in person above 60 kg by body weight). Twenty two persons (Group B) were given a initial loading dose of propofol 80 mg and 100 mg at the same way. Additional dose of propofol which was injected once a minute until adequate sedation by 20 mg and maintenance dose during EGD were compared between two groups. Respiration rate, pulse rate, blood pressure, arterial oxygen saturation and ejection fraction of left ventricle were monitored. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between two groups in monitored parameters. Persons in group B were given significantly lower additional dose (p<0.001) and maintenance dose (p<0.05) of propofol. However total amount of propofol during EGD was not significantly different between two groups. CONCLUSION: In relatively young (under 60 years of age) and healthy persons without significant medical problem, 80 mg and 100 mg of propofol (in person below 60 kg and above 60 kg by body weight) as initial loading dose of propofol during EGD are more clinically relevant than 60 mg and 80 mg of propofol (in person below 60 kg and above 60 kg by body weight).
Anoxia ; Arterial Pressure ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal* ; Heart Rate ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Oxygen ; Propofol* ; Respiratory Rate

Patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) on maintenance hemodialysis invariably suffered from varying degrees of anemia. Erythrocytosis had been rarely reported in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing regular dialysis therapy. We described the case of a 43-year-old man with ESRD accompanied with erythrocytosis. Other causes of erythrocytosis were excluded by appropriate clinical studies such as polycythemia vera, renal cell cancer, hepatoma etc. Abdominal ultrasonography showed numerous renal cysts in patient consistent with acquired cystic disease of ESRD. Acquired cystic disease of the kidney in patient with ESRD can be associated with development of erythrocytosis. Peripheral serum erythropoietin level was maintained at normal range as measured by sensitive radioimmunoassay. We would like to indicate that erythrocytosis although rare in ESRD, should be associated with acquired cystic kidney disease in dialysis. Here, we report a case of erythrocytosis in long-term hemodialysis patient with the review of the literature.
Adult ; Anemia ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Dialysis ; Erythropoietin* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Diseases, Cystic ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Polycythemia Vera ; Polycythemia* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Reference Values ; Renal Dialysis* ; Ultrasonography