Decursin is a major biological active component of Angelica gigas Nakai and is known to induce apoptosis of metastatic prostatic cancer cells. Recently, other reports have been commissioned to examine the anticancer activities of this plant. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory activity and related mechanism of action of decursin against glioblastoma cell line. Decursin demonstrated cytotoxic effects on U87 and C6 glioma cells in a dose-dependent manner but not in primary glial cells. Additionally, decursin increased apoptotic bodies and phosphorylated JNK and p38 in U87 cells. Decursin also down-regulated Bcl-2 as well as cell cycle dependent proteins, CDK-4 and cyclin D1. Furthermore, decursin-induced apoptosis was dependent on the caspase activation in U87 cells. Taken together, our data provide the evidence that decursin induces apoptosis in glioblastoma cells, making it a potential candidate as a chemotherapeutic drug against brain tumor.
Angelica ; Apoptosis* ; Brain Neoplasms ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Line ; Cyclin D1 ; Extracellular Vesicles ; Glioblastoma* ; Glioma ; Neuroglia* ; Plants ; Prostatic Neoplasms

Familial Parkinson's disease (PD) has been linked to point mutations and duplication of the α-synuclein (α-syn) gene. Mutant α-syn expression increases the vulnerability of neurons to exogenous insults. In this study, we developed a new PD model in the transgenic mice expressing mutant hemizygous (hemi) or homozygous (homo) A53T α-synuclein (α-syn Tg) and their wildtype (WT) littermates by treatment with sub-toxic (10 mg/kg, i.p., daily for 5 days) or toxic (30 mg/kg, i.p., daily for 5 days) dose of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Tyrosine hydroxylase and Bcl-2 levels were reduced in the α-syn Tg but not WT mice by sub-toxic MPTP injection. In the adhesive removal test, time to remove paper was significantly increased only in the homo α-syn Tg mice. In the challenging beam test, the hemi and homo α-syn Tg mice spent significantly longer time to traverse as compared to that of WT group. In order to find out responsible proteins related with vulnerability of mutant α-syn expressed neurons, DJ-1 and ubiquitin enzyme expressions were examined. In the SN, DJ-1 and ubiquitin conjugating enzyme, UBE2N, levels were significantly decreased in the α-syn Tg mice. Moreover, A53T α-syn overexpression decreased DJ-1 expression in SH-SY5Y cells. These findings suggest that the vulnerability to oxidative injury such as MPTP of A53T α-syn mice can be explained by downregulation of DJ-1.
1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine ; Adhesives ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Dopamine* ; Dopaminergic Neurons* ; Down-Regulation* ; Hominidae ; Humans ; Mice* ; Mice, Transgenic ; Neurons ; Parkinson Disease ; Point Mutation ; Synucleins ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; Ubiquitin

Objective: To investigate the anti-obesity activity and the action mechanism of the roots of Adenophora triphylla var. japonica extract (ATE) in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Methods: The roots of Adenophora triphylla were extracted with 70% ethanol. To demonstrate the compounds, linoleic acid was analyzed by using gas chromatography; and the anti-obesity effects and possible mechanisms of ATE were examined in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and HFD-induced obese mice. Results: Treatment with ATE inhibited the lipid accumulation without cytotoxicity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Furthermore, 200 and 400 mg/kg ATE treatment significantly decreased the body weight gain, white adipose tissues (WATs) weight and plasma triglyceride level, while 100 and 200 mg/kg ATE treatment increased the plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level in the HFD-induced obese mice, as compared with the HFD group. Treatment with 200 and 400 mg/kg ATE also lowered the size of adipocytes in adipose tissue and reduced the lipid accumulation in liver. ATE treatment showed significantly lower expression level of adipogenesis-related proteins, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, fatty acid binding protein (aP2), fatty acid synthase in 3T3-L1 adipocytes; and furthermore, decreased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, aP2, fatty acid synthase, sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c, and lipoprotein lipase mRNA expression levels in WAT of the HFD-induced obese mice. Conclusions: These results suggested that the ATE has an anti-obesity effect, which may be elicited by regulating the expression of adipogenesis and lipogenesis-related genes and proteins in adipocytes and WAT of the HFD-induced obese mice.

BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare locally aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma with a high incidence of local recurrence, regional lymph node metastasis, followed by distant metastasis. Because of shortage of the retrospective study, standard treatment has not been established. The purpose of this study was to present the surgical treatment and outcome of 8 patients with MCC. METHODS: We report our experiences with 8 patients who underwent treatment for MCC at our institution from 2000 through 2012. Two men and 6 women received treatment for MCC. The mean age was 76.4 years (range, 53 to 93 years). RESULTS: The follow-up period ranged from 7 to 26 months (mean, 22.9). During the follow-up period, three of 8 patients had a relapse (mean time before recurrence, 10 months; 1 month, 7 months, and 22 months). After primary surgery, 3 patients underwent radiotherapy, and 1 patient received chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: MCC is an aggressive skin cancer with a high rate of local recurrence. Complete surgical excision is the mainstay of local treatment, but adjuvant radiotherapy should be considered for better local control.
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Disease Management ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Neoplasms

PURPOSE: Several studies have shown that viral respiratory infections induce more severe respiratory symptoms in atopic patients than in normal subjects. We attempted to investigate if there is any difference in the viral etiology, clinical manifestations, production of interleukin (IL)-8, and regulated on activation in normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) between atopic and non-atopic subjects with lower respiratory infections. METHODS: Sera and nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) were collected from 97 children with lower respiratory infections who were admitted to the pediatric ward. Seventy-one children were classified as atopic subjects. We detected respiratory viruses with multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in NPA and measured total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and specific IgE in sera. IL-8 and RANTES levels measured in sera by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, etiology, and clinical manifestations were compared between atopic and non-atopic subjects. Atopic patients were defined as having elevated specific IgE to more than one allergen or age-matched, high serum total IgE levels. RESULTS: Both serum IL-8 and RANTES levels were significantly higher in atopic than in non-atopic patients. There was no significant difference in viral etiology and clinical diagnosis between the two groups. The frequency of wheezing was higher in atopic than in non-atopic patients. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that both serum IL-8 and RANTES levels and the frequency of wheezing were significantly higher in atopic than in non-atopic patients. That suggests that chemokine responses to viral respiratory infection may be different between atopic and non-atopic patients and may be associated with a difference in clinical manifestation, such as wheezing, between the two groups. However, further prospective large-scaled studies are required to clarify our conclusion.
Chemokine CCL5 ; Child ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Interleukin-8 ; Interleukins ; Respiratory Sounds ; Respiratory System ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; T-Lymphocytes

This study was designed to evaluate the clinical features of abdominal actinomycosis and to assess its therapeutic outcome. We reviewed patients with abdominal actinomycosis in Seoul St. Mary hospital, between January 1994 and January 2010. Twenty-three patients (5 male and 18 female, mean age, 47.8 yr; range, 6-75 yr), with abdominal actinomycosis were included. Emergency surgery was performed in 50% due to symptoms of peritonitis. The common presentation on preoperative computerized tomography was a mass with abscess, mimicking malignancy. The mean tumor size was 7.0 cm (range, 2.5-10.5). In all patients, actinomycotic masses were surgically removed. Mean duration of hospital stay was 17.8 days (range, 5-49). Long term oral antibiotic treatment (mean 4.2 months; range, 0.5-7.0 months) were administered to all patients. All patients were free of recurrence after a median follow up of 30.0 months (mean 35.5 +/- 14.8 months, range, 10.0-70.0 months); recurrence was not seen in any patient. In conclusion, abdominal actinomycosis should be included as a differential diagnosis when an unusual abdominal mass or abscess presents on abdominal CT. Assertive removal of necrotic tissue with surgical drainage and long term antibiotic treatment provide a good prognosis in patients with actinomycosis.
*Abdomen ; Actinomycosis/*diagnosis/drug therapy/surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritonitis/diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Intestinal malrotation with volvulus is generally presented as a bilious vomiting and acute intestinal obstruction in the newborn period. It could compromise vascular supply of the small bowel secondary to torsion of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and without urgent surgical management, it could lead to detrimental outcomes such as transmural bowel infarction and sepsis. However, in chronic cases, it is rarely obstructs the vascular supply and propagates to an acute bowel infarction. Rarely, chronic malrotation with midgut volvulus may not reduce the mesenteric blood supply because of collateral vessels, and the chronically stagnated blood flow of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) favors thrombus formation within the lumen. The recommended treatment is Ladd's procedure and anticoagulation therapy. The authors present an unusual case of intestinal malrotation with chronic volvulus resulting in superior mesenteric vein and portal vein thrombosis in a 28-year-old patient.
Adult ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infarction ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intestinal Volvulus ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Mesenteric Veins ; Portal Vein ; Sepsis ; Thrombosis ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: Treatment of ovarian metastasis from colorectal cancer has been controversial. We investigated the clinicopathologic features and treatment outcomes of patients with ovarian metastasis from colorectal carcinoma. METHODS: From January 1996 to May 2009, 567 women were treated for colorectal cancer. Of those, 23 patients were diagnosed as having ovarian metastasis. We reviewed 19 pathologically proven cases, retrospectively. RESULTS: The incidence of ovarian metastasis was 4.0%. The number of cases involving synchronous ovarian metastases was 9 (47.4%), and 10 cases (52.6%) involved metachronous ovarian metastases. Thirteen patients had metastases located in the pelvis and 6 also had peritoneal dissemination in addition to the ovarian metastasis. Twenty (63.1%) were treated with grossly complete resection. After a median follow-up duration of 45 months (range of 6~96 months), the median survival after the diagnosis of ovarian metastasis was 40 months. The median overall survival was significantly longer in the grossly complete resection group (48.5 vs. 16 months; P=0.001). For median survival after the diagnosis of ovarian-metastasis, patients with grossly complete resection showed a significantly more favorable survival rate than the group with remnant tumors (46.5 vs 9 months; P=0.009). The survival of patients with metastases located in the pelvis was better than the group with peritoneal dissemination. CONCLUSION: Grossly complete resection would be of help to improve the prognosis in selective patients with metastasis from colorectal cancer, especially when metastasis is located in the pelvis.
Colorectal Neoplasms ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pelvis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Perforations that occur during colonoscopy are usually managed by surgical repair. When the patient's symptoms are mild and laboratory findings show minor abnormalities, a conservative treatment can be considered. Although an operation is the treatment of choice in patients with generalized peritonitis, in some selected patients, percutaneous abscess drainage can be an alternative to surgical intervention for drainage of deep-infected fluid collections or can act as a temporary measure until the patient becomes sufficiently stable for surgery. We report here on a 53-yr-old male patient who developed signs of localized peritonitis and had a pelvic abscess due to a colonic perforation after colonoscopy and was treated successfully by using percutaneous abscess drainage.
Abscess ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Drainage ; Humans ; Male ; Peritonitis

PURPOSE: The prognosis of advanced colorectal cancer patients may be different even for the same TNM staging. The characteristic features of tumors, such as tumor budding, tumor nodules, and extracapsular extension (ECE) of lymph nodes, can influence the disease progression and the outcome for patients. Tumor budding occurs what at the invasion front of colorectal adenocarcinomas, tumor cells, singly or in small aggregates, become detached from the neoplastic glands, and it can be divided it into two groups, low grade (0~16 foci in a field) and high grade (17 or more foci in a field). A tumor nodule is histologically identified within the fatty tissue or the detached fatty tissue around the dissected lymph nodes, or is a place picked up as lymph nodes from resected specimens which contain no lymph node components. ECE is defined as a tumor extension beyond the node capsule. The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical significance of tumor budding, tumor nodules, and ECE of lymph nodes as prognostic factors in Stage III colorectal cancer patients. METHODS: We analyzed the disease-free and overall 5-year survival rates and recurrence rates in 94 Stage-III colorectal cancer patients according to tumor the budding intensity, the tumor nodules, and the lymph node ECE status. RESULTS: Of the entire group, the 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were 49%, and 50%, respectively. The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were higher in the low-grade tumor budding group than in the high-grade group (58% vs 33%, P=0.045, 61% vs 39%, P=0.003). The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates in patients with tumor nodules were lower than those in patients without one (44% vs 69%, P=0.086, 47% vs 77%, P=0.018). The recurrence rate was also higher in the group with tumor nodules than without one (80% vs 52%, P=0.045). The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were higher in the ECE negative group than in the positive one (68% vs 37%, P=0.018, 75% vs 42%, P=0.001). The recurrence rate was also higher in the ECE positive group than in the negative group (78% vs 46%, P=0.008). The existence of ECE and tumor nodule were strongly related to systemic recurrence (P=0.006, P=0.033), but not to the local recurrence (P=0.777, P=0.611). Considering the analysis of the recurrence pattern by N stage classification, there is no statistical difference in the N2 patient group, but there was in the existence of ECE and tumor nodule were strongly related to the systemic recurrence in N1 group (P=0.019, P=0.028). These three factors were scored according to the existence, and the score range was divided into two prognostic groups, high risk group (> or =2) and low risk group (<2). The high risk group was significantly associated with systemic recurrence (P= 0.004) rather than recurrence (P=0.865), and these score value were only significant in the N1 patient group (P=0.007) rather than in the N2 group (P=0.927). The high risk group also showed poor overall survival rate compared with the low risk one in only the N1 group (P=0.002), but nof in the N2 group (P=0.193). On multivariate analysis, UICC stage and ECE were two significant factors for tumor recurrence and the 5-year disease-free survival rate. CONCLUSIONS: These data showed that even if similar lymph node metastasis existed in advanced colorectal cancer patients, there was a different 5-year disease-free survival rate and overall survival rate according to the tumor budding, tumor nodule, and ECE status. On multivariate analysis, UICC stage and ECE were two significant factors for the tumor recurrence and the 5-year disease-free survival rate. Our results suggest that tumor budding, tumor nodule, and ECE of lymph node are excellent parameters to provide a confident prediction of clinical outcome.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adipose Tissue ; Classification ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Disease Progression ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate