Functional implication of BAFF synthesis and release in gangliosides-stimulated microglia.

BAFF is a recently identified member of the TNF ligand superfamily that plays a critical role in B cell differentiation, survival, and regulation of Ig production. In the present study, we examined whether BAFF is expressed in microglia, and the expression and release of BAFF are regulated by gangliosides. The results showed that BAFF was expressed and released in rat primary microglia as well as in BV-2 cells.

Chemical ablation of the gallbladder using alcohol in cholecystitis after palliative biliary stenting.

Chemical ablation of the gallbladder is effective in patients at high risk of complications after surgery. Percutaneous gallbladder drainage is an effective treatment for cholecystitis; however, when the drain tube cannot be removed because of recurrent symptoms, retaining it can cause problems. An 82-year-old woman presented with cholecystitis and cholangitis caused by biliary stent occlusion and suspected tumor invasion of the cystic duct.

Prophylactic argon plasma coagulation ablation does not decrease delayed postpolypectomy bleeding.

Background: The most common complication of colonoscopic polypectomy is postpolypectomy bleeding (PPB). However, there are no established guidelines for the prevention of delayed PPB. It is possible that submucosal vessels of an artificial ulcer are a potential source of delayed bleeding that occurs several days after polypectomy.

Comparison of low vs moderate dose of atorvastatin in clopidogrel resistance after coronary stenting in Korean patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: The effect of atorvastatin 10 mg vs 40 mg in clopidogrel resistance and clinical events after coronary stenting was compared in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods And Results: Platelet aggregation was measured before clopidogrel administration and 4 h, 24 h, 5 days, and 8 months later in 130 ACS patients. Stented patients were randomly assigned to atorvastatin either 10 mg (n=65) or 40 mg (n=65), and received an oral loading dose of 300 mg of clopidogrel followed by 75 mg/day for 8 months.

Clinical implications of fatty pancreas: correlations between fatty pancreas and metabolic syndrome.

Aim: To investigate the clinical implications of lipid deposition in the pancreas (fatty pancreas).

Methods: The subjects of this study were 293 patients who had undergone abdominal computed tomography (CT) and sonography. Fatty pancreas was diagnosed by sonographic findings and subdivided into mild, moderate, and severe fatty pancreas groups comparing to the retroperitoneal fat echogenicity.

Isolation and identification of phlorotannins from Ecklonia stolonifera with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of Ecklonia stolonifera was used to determine the chemical identity of bioactive constituents, with potent antioxidant activities. The structures of the phlorotannins were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, including NMR and mass spectrometry analysis. The antioxidant activities of the isolated compounds were evaluated by free radical scavenging activities in both in vitro and cellular systems.

Functional outcome in poststroke patients with or without fatigue.

Objectives: Although fatigue after stroke is common, little is known about the effect of fatigue on functional outcomes in stroke patients. We, therefore, evaluated the influence of fatigue on functional outcomes after stroke.

Design: Forty consecutive outpatients were evaluated 32.

White matter alterations in male patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

To investigate white matter abnormalities in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and to clarify the relationship between discrete white matter alterations and obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions, the fractional anisotropy obtained from 25 male patients and 25 matched normal controls were analyzed. The patients had a significantly lower fractional anisotropy in the left anterior cingulate white matter than the controls. When stratified by clinical symptom dimensions, patients with a predominant aggressive/checking symptom dimension exhibited a significantly lower fractional anisotropy in the left anterior cingulate white matter, whereas patients with a predominant contamination/cleaning symptom dimension showed a significantly higher fractional anisotropy in the bilateral prefrontal white matter.

Cloning of a gene encoding dextranase from Lipomyces starkeyi and its expression in Pichia pastoris.

A gene (lsd1) encoding dextranase from Lipomyces starkeyi KSM22 has been previously cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The gene consisting of 1,824 base pairs and encoding a protein of 608 amino acids was then cloned into and secretively expressed in Pichia pastoris under the control of the AOX1 promoter. The dextranase productivity of the P.

Volumetric differences in the pituitary between drug-naïve and medicated male patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Objective: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms are induced or aggravated by stress, and the pituitary is a key component of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. We examined pituitary volume in drug-naïve and medicated male patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Methods: Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging studies were conducted on 62 male control subjects, medicated male patients (N=50) and drug-naïve male patients (N=12) with OCD.

Polymorphisms in the FAS and FASL genes and survival of early stage non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the impact of functional polymorphisms in the FAS and FASL genes on the survival of early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Experimental Design: Three hundred and thirty-eight consecutive patients with surgically resected NSCLC were enrolled. The FAS -1377G>A (rs2234767) and -670A>G (rs1800682) and FASL -844C>T (rs763110) polymorphisms were investigated.

Short-term effect of quercetin on the pharmacokinetics of fexofenadine, a substrate of P-glycoprotein, in healthy volunteers.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess whether quercetin exhibited any inhibitory effect on P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated drug disposition in humans using fexofenadine as a P-gp substrate.

Methods: Twelve healthy subjects were enrolled in the study and treated daily for 7 days with 500 mg quercetin or placebo 3 times a day. On day 7, a single dose of 60 mg fexofenadine was administered orally.

Primary incisional therapy with a modified method for patients with benign anastomotic esophageal stricture.

Background: Benign anastomotic esophageal stricture after surgical resection is not uncommon and requires repeated dilation sessions to maintain patency because of the significant recurrence rate with bougie or balloon dilation.

Objective: Our study was designed to evaluate whether a modified method of incisional therapy is effective and maintains a good patency in a benign anastomotic esophageal stricture.

Design: A prospective outcome study.

Assessment and treatment of dynamic obstruction in anomalous right coronary artery using dynamic diastolic pressure gradient change during dobutamine challenge with rapid atrial pacing.

In anomalous right coronary artery (RCA), extravascular coronary compression results in dynamic obstruction which can cause effort angina as well as syncope. Measurement of dynamic intracoronary pressure gradient (DeltaP) change across the lesion using dobutamine challenge with rapid atrial pacing (RAP) can be used for assessment of dynamic obstruction in anomalous coronary artery. We report a case of anomalous origin of RCA which dynamic diastolic pressure gradient (DeltaP) was measured using this method.

Usefulness of magnifying endoscopy in post-endoscopic resection scar for early gastric neoplasm: a prospective short-term follow-up endoscopy study.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between post-endoscopic resection (ER) scars on magnifying endoscopy (ME) and the pathological diagnosis in order to validate the clinical significance of ME.

Methods: From January, 2007 to June, 2008, 124 patients with 129 post-ER scar lesions were enrolled. Mucosal pit patterns on ME were compared with conventional endoscopy (CE) findings and histological results obtained from targeted biopsies.

[Efficacy of initial treatment with peginterferon alpha-2a versus peginterferon alpha-2b in combination with ribavirin in naive chronic hepatitis C patients living in Daejeon and Chungcheong Province in Korea: a comparative study].

Backgrounds/aims: Peginterferon alpha-2a or -2b is the standard treatment regimen in chronic hepatitis C. However, there have been few comparative studies of the efficacies of these two types of peginterferon. We evaluated their efficacies in combination with ribavirin as a initial treatment for chronic hepatitis C.

Gefitinib for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer.

Gefitinib is an orally bioavailable, EGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor and was the first targeted drug to be approved for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Identification of objective tumor regressions with gefitinib in NSCLC patients has resulted in intense, worldwide clinical and basic research directed toward finding the optimal use of gefitinib in NSCLC. A recent large international Phase III study (IRESSA NSCLC Trial Evaluating Response and Survival Against Taxotere [INTEREST]) comparing gefitinib and docetaxel in unselected pretreated patients showed equivalent survival with better tolerability and quality of life.

The effect of electrical stimulation therapy on dysphagia following treatment for head and neck cancer.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in patients suffering from dysphagia following treatment for head and neck cancer. In a prospective, double blinded, randomized case control study between January 2006 and December 2007, 14 patients were randomized to 30min of NMES and 30min of traditional swallowing training for 5 days per week for 2 weeks (experimental group), and 12 patients were randomized to sham stimulation plus traditional swallowing training (control group). Effects were assessed using the clinical dysphagia scale (CDS), the functional dysphagia scale (FDS), the American speech-language-hearing association national outcome measurement system (ASHA NOMS) and the M.

Endoscopic diverticulotomy with an isolated-tip needle-knife papillotome (Iso-Tome) and a fitted overtube for the treatment of a Killian-Jamieson diverticulum.

A Killian-Jamieson diverticulum (KJD) is an unfamiliar and rare cervical esophageal diverticulum. This diverticulum originates on the anterolateral wall of the proximal cervical esophagus through a muscular gap (the Killian-Jamieson space) below the cricopharyngeal muscle and lateral to the longitudinal muscle of the esophagus. To date, only surgical treatment has been recommended for a symptomatic KJD due to its close proximity to the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the concern of possible nerve injury.

Can wire-guided cannulation prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis? A prospective randomized trial.

Background: Among the procedure-related factors associated with post-ERCP pancreatitis, selective cannulation of the common bile duct by insertion of a guidewire may be associated with fewer complications than conventional methods of cannulation with contrast injection to access the bile duct. However, the results of studies regarding the usefulness of wire-guided cannulation (WGC) are conflicting.

Objective: This prospective randomized trial was designed to determine whether WGC reduces the rate of post-ERCP pancreatitis.

The mechanism of vasorelaxation induced by Schisandra chinensis extract in rat thoracic aorta.

Aim Of The Study: Schisandra chinensis (SC) is a known medical herb for the treatment of cardiovascular symptoms associated with menopausal symptoms in Korea. However, the pharmacological action mechanisms involved have not been well studied. This study was aimed to investigate the vascular effects of SC in rat thoracic aorta.

[In vitro amphotericin B susceptibility of korean bloodstream yeast isolates assessed by the CLSI broth microdilution method, Etest, and Minimum fungicidal concentration test].

Background: Although amphotericin B (AMB) has a wide spectrum of activity that encompasses the majority of yeast isolates, there have been recent reports suggesting that some yeast isolates exhibit decreased susceptibility to AMB. However, in vitro AMB susceptibility of yeast species isolates from blood cultures in Korea has not been fully surveyed.

Methods: A total of 92 bloodstream yeast isolates from four Korean hospitals, representing 10 Candida species (69 isolates) and 4 non-Candida yeast species (23 isolates) were evaluated.

GM1 induces p38 and microtubule dependent ramification of rat primary microglia in vitro.

Microglia are immunologically competent cells in the central nervous system and considered to be a key player in brain inflammation. The morphological change of microglia has been shown to be linked to functional phenotypes both in vivo and in vitro. As an attempt to identify factors that regulate microglial morphology, we investigated the effect of gangliosides on microglial ramification in vitro.

Porphyromonas gingivalis, gamma interferon, and a proapoptotic fibronectin matrix form a synergistic trio that induces c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1-mediated nitric oxide generation and cell death.

During infection and inflammation, bacterial and inflammatory proteases break down extracellular matrices into macromolecular fragments. Fibronectin fragments are associated with disease severity in arthritis and periodontitis. The mechanisms by which these fragments contribute to disease pathogenesis are unclear.

Nodular fasciitis in the submandibular gland.

Nodular fasciitis (NF) is a benign, proliferative lesion of myofibroblasts. The most common site of the lesion is in the upper extremities or trunk. NF in the head and neck is next in frequency and is the most common site in infants and children.