BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Licorice has been shown to possess cancer chemopreventive effects. However, glycyrrhizin, a major component in licorice, was found to interfere with steroid metabolism and cause edema and hypertension. The roasting process of licorice modifies the chemical composition and converts glycyrrhizin to glycyrrhetinic acid. The purpose of this study was to examine the anti-carcinogenic effects of the ethanol extract of roasted licorice (EERL) and to identify the active compound in EERL. MATERIALS/METHODS: Ethanol and aqueous extracts of roasted and un-roasted licorice were prepared. The active fraction was separated from the methylene chloride (MC)-soluble fraction of EERL and the structure of the purified compound was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The anti-carcinogenic effects of licorice extracts and licochalcone A was evaluated using a MTT assay, Western blot, flow cytometry, and two-stage skin carcinogenesis model. RESULTS: EERL was determined to be more potent and efficacious than the ethanol extract of un-roasted licorice in inhibiting the growth of DU145 and MLL prostate cancer cells, as well as HT-29 colon cancer cells. The aqueous extracts of un-roasted and roasted licorice showed minimal effects on cell growth. EERL potently inhibited growth of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast, B16-F10 melanoma, and A375 and A2058 skin cancer cells, whereas EERL slightly stimulated the growth of normal IEC-6 intestinal epithelial cells and CCD118SK fibroblasts. The MC-soluble fraction was more efficacious than EERL in inhibiting DU145 cell growth. Licochalcone A was isolated from the MC fraction and identified as the active compound of EERL. Both EERL and licochalcone A induced apoptosis of DU145 cells. EERL potently inhibited chemically-induced skin papilloma formation in mice. CONCLUSIONS: Non-polar compounds in EERL exert potent anti-carcinogenic effects, and that roasted rather than un-roasted licorice should be favored as a cancer preventive agent, whether being used as an additive to food or medicine preparations.
Animals ; Anticarcinogenic Agents* ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Breast ; Carcinogenesis ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Edema ; Epithelial Cells ; Ethanol ; Fibroblasts ; Flow Cytometry ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; Glycyrrhiza* ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; Hypertension ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Melanoma ; Metabolism ; Methylene Chloride ; Mice ; Papilloma ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Skin ; Skin Neoplasms ; Spectrum Analysis

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the relationship of malnutrition, social network and health-related quality of life and to investigate the main factors influencing health-related quality of life in elders. METHODS: The research design was a descriptive survey design using a convenience sampling. Data were collected by self-report questionnaires from 196 elders. Data analysis was done using SPSS 18.0 pc+ program for descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: The average score for health related quality of life was 3.33 (SD=0.86). Differences in health-related quality of life were statistically significant according to age, gender, occupation, presence of spouse, monthly income, source of income, economic status, medicine, and existence of chronic disease. Health-related quality of life was significantly correlated with malnutrition and social network. Major factors affecting health related quality of life for elders were malnutrition, occupation, age, social network, and economic status which explained 52.0% of the variance in health related quality of life. CONCLUSION: Findings provide a basis for developing nursing interventions to improve health-related quality of life. Future studies are needed a wide variety of variables that might influence health-related quality of life in elders.
Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Malnutrition ; Occupations ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Research Design ; Spouses ; Statistics as Topic

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) by complicating rapid correction of severe hyponatremia has been widely reported. Additionally, CPM was occasionally reported among patients with post-liver transplantation, burns, chronic renal failure with dialysis, or other diseases associated with or not associated with other electrolyte changes or hyperosmolarity. However, there have been a few reports of CPM occurring in diabetic patients without documented electrolyte changes. This report is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of CPM in type 2 diabetic patients without electrolyte changes in Korea. A 40-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus with abruptly developed dysarthria and ataxia was admitted to our facility. He suffered from poor glucose control and multiple diabetic complications. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a well-defined bilateral symmetric hyperintense lesion in the central portion of the pons on T2- and diffusion-weighted images, which was consistent with CPM. After the patient's blood glucose and blood pressure normalized, his dysarthria and ataxia improved. Six months after discharge, follow-up MRI showed a persistent, but greatly reduced symmetric lesion in the central pons. It is certainly possible for CPM to be overlooked clinically in diabetic patients, but more cases could be diagnosed if careful attention was paid to this syndrome.
Adult ; Ataxia ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Brain ; Burns ; Diabetes Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Dialysis ; Dysarthria ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myelinolysis, Central Pontine ; Pons ; Transplants

This study was designed to elucidate high-K+induced response of circular and longitudinal smooth muscle from human gastric corpus using isometric contraction. Contraction from circular and longitudinal muscle stripes of gastric corpus greater curvature and lesser curvature were compared. Circular smooth muscle from corpus greater curvature showed high K+ (50 mM)-induced tonic contraction. On the contrary, however, longitudinal smooth muscle strips showed high K+ (50 mM)-induced sustained relaxation. To find out the reason for the discrepancy we tested several relaxation mechanisms. Protein kinase blockers like KT5720, PKA inhibitor, and KT5823, PKG inhibitor, did not affect high K+-induced relaxation. K+ channel blockers like tetraethylammonium (TEA), apamin (APA), glibenclamide (Glib) and barium (Ba2+) also had no effect. However, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) and 1H-(1,2,4) oxadiazolo (4,3-A) quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and 4-AP (4-aminopyridine), voltage-dependent K+ channel (KV) blocker, inhibited high K+-induced relaxation, hence reversing to tonic contraction. High K+-induced relaxation was observed in gastric corpus of human stomach, but only in the longitudinal muscles from greater curvature not lesser curvature. L-NNA, ODQ and KV channel blocker sensitive high K+-induced relaxation in longitudinal muscle of higher portion of corpus was also observed. These results suggest that longitudinal smooth muscle from greater curvature of gastric corpus produced high K+-induced relaxation which was activated by NO/sGC pathway and by KV channel dependent mechanism.
Apamin ; Barium ; Carbazoles ; Contracts ; Glyburide ; Guanylate Cyclase ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Isometric Contraction ; Muscle, Smooth ; Muscles ; Protein Kinases ; Pyrroles ; Relaxation ; Stomach ; Tetraethylammonium

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influences of uterine septum and their elimination on the reproductive outcomes in women who have history of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) and/or infertility. METHODS: The medical records of reproductive outcomes in patients who have had history of RSA and infertility who were diagnosed with uterine septum only by hysterosalpingogram (HSG) between January 2008 and December 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. The subjects who have had severe male factor, tubal factors, other uterine factors, endocrine abnormalities, peritoneal factors, and abnormal karyotyping among both partners were excluded. In 27 patients, confirmation of diagnosis by laparoscopy and elimination of uterine septum by trans-vaginal hysteroscopy was done. Seventeen patients were strongly suspected to uterine septum on HSG but tried to get pregnancy without any other procedure for evaluation and management of uterine anomaly. Age matched 42 patients who have history of RSA and/or infertility and diagnosed to normal HSG finding at same period were randomly selected as control. The medical records of reproductive outcomes were analyzed and compared between groups. RESULTS: The mean time of observation after diagnosis was 21.8 months (10 to 32). 55.6% (15/27) of patients in patients who received trans-vaginal hysteroscopic uterine septotomy were success to get pregnancies and was significantly higher than that of 17 patients who did not receive proper management (23.5%, 4/17, p<0.05). In control population, 40.5% (17/42) were success to pregnancies and the differences were not statistically significant compared to both two study groups. The live birth rate which was excluded pregnancy loss by abnormal fetal karyotyping and congenital anomaly were 75% (9/12) in treated septated uterus group and 84.6% (11/13) in control group each which have no statistically significant different. In patients with septated uterus who did not receive proper management showed lower delivery rate (50%, 2/4) than that of other groups but was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: According to present data, women with a uterine septum have an increased chance of successful pregnancy with improved obstetric outcome after proper management of the uterine cavity. And these results were showed in patients with no regard to their reproductive history. But, in case of failed to receive proper management, uterine septum can affect not only pregnancy ongoing but successful pregnancy too.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Female ; Humans ; Hysteroscopy ; Infertility ; Karyotyping ; Laparoscopy ; Live Birth ; Male ; Medical Records ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive History ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterus

We elucidated the distribution of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in human stomach, using cryosection and c-Kit immunohistochemistry to identify c-Kit positive ICC. Before c-Kit staining, we routinely used hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining to identify every structure of human stomach, from mucosa to longitudinal muscle. HE staining revealed that the fundus greater curvature (GC) had prominent oblique muscle layer, and c-Kit immunostaining c-Kit positive ICC cells were found to have typical morphology of dense fusiform cell body with multiple processes protruding from the central cell body. In particular, we could observe dense processes and ramifications of ICC in myenteric area and longitudinal muscle layer of corpus GC. Interestingly, c-Kit positive ICC-like cells which had morphology very similar to ICC were found in gastric mucosa. We could not find any significant difference in the distribution of ICC between fundus and corpus, except for submucosa where the density of ICC was much higher in gastric fundus than corpus. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the density of ICC between each area of fundus and corpus, except for muscularis mucosa. Finally, we also found similar distribution of ICC in normal and cancerous tissue obtained from a patient who underwent pancreotomy and gastrectomy. In conclusion, ICC was found ubiquitously in human stomach and the density of ICC was significantly lower in the muscularis mucosa of both fundus/corpus and higher in the submucosa of gastric fundus than corpus.
Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Gastrectomy ; Gastric Fundus ; Gastric Mucosa ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal ; Mucous Membrane ; Muscles ; Stomach

Glomus tumors are commonly observed in the dermis or subcutis but are only rarely found in the stomach. A 52-year-old woman presented with an incidental finding of a submucosal tumor that showed a positive cushion sign in the stomach. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) showed a 1.8x1.0 cm sized well-circumscribed homogenous hypoechoic tumor with side halos in the fourth sonographic layer of the gastric wall. Contrast enhanced abdominal computerized tomography (CT) demonstrated high enhancement of the tumor with the same level of enhancement as the portal vein for the arterial phase, with persistence of enhancement in the portal phase. For treatment, laparascopic wedge resection was performed. Histological findings of a biopsy specimen were compatible with a glomus tumor. Although it is difficult to diagnose a glomus tumor preoperatively, these characteristic findings determined with the use of EUS and CT seem to be useful to distinguish a glomus tumor from other tumors that arise from the third or fourth sonographic layer of the gastric wall.
Biopsy ; Dermis ; Endosonography ; Female ; Glomus Tumor ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; Stomach

BACKGROUND: Spitz nevus and malignant melanoma have common features clinically and histologically, and in some cases it is impossible to distinguish between the two. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) serve to protect cells, and are activated by cell injury. Some HSPs are shown to be elevated in many types of cancers. Previous studies have reported the expression of heat shock protein in association with melanoma; however, a similar relationship with Spitz nevi has never been investigated. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to measure the expression pattern of HSP 105 in both Spitz nevi and melanomas. METHODS: The specimens of 4 of Spitz nevi and 10 of malignant melanomas were analyzed for heat shock protein 105 expression through immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical examination of HSP 105 showed strong expression in malignant melanoma specimens. On the other hand, weak expression was observed in Spitz nevus specimens. The degree of expression of HSP 105 showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings provide the possibility of using HSP 105 as a effective marker for differentiating between Spitz nevi and malignant melanomas. In support of this, HSP 105 is considered to be a tumor-associated antigen of malignant melanoma.
Hand ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; Melanoma ; Nevus ; Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell

To elucidate the mechanism of cyclic nucleotides, such as adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and guanosine 3',5' -cyclic monophosphate (cGMP), in the regulation of human gastric motility, we examined the effects of forskolin (FSK), isoproterenol (ISO) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on the spontaneous, high K+ and acetylcholine (ACh)-induced contractions of corporal circular smooth muscle in human stomach. Gastric circular smooth muscle showed regular spontaneous contraction, and FSK, ISO and SNP inhibited its phasic contraction and basal tone in a concentration-dependent manner. High K+ (50 mM) produced sustained tonic contraction, and ACh (10 micrometer) produced initial transient contraction followed by later sustained tonic contraction with superimposed phasic contractions. FSK, ISO and SNP inhibited high K+-induced tonic contraction and also ACh-induced phasic and tonic contraction in a reversible manner. Nifedipine (1 micrometer), inhibitor of voltage-dependent L-type calcium current (VDCC(L)), almost abolished ACh-induced phasic contractions. These findings suggest that FSK, ISO and SNP, which are known cyclic nucleotide stimulators, inhibit smooth muscle contraction in human stomach partly via inhibition of VDCCL.
Acetylcholine ; Adenosine ; Calcium ; Contracts ; Forskolin ; Guanosine ; Humans ; Isoproterenol ; Muscle, Smooth ; Nifedipine ; Nitroprusside ; Nucleotides, Cyclic ; Relaxation ; Stomach

No abstract available.