Evaluation of meniscus allograft transplantation with serial magnetic resonance imaging during the first postoperative year: focus on graft extrusion.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate change in meniscal allograft extrusion during the first year after meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT) by use of serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Twenty-three consecutive patients who underwent MAT between June 2002 and March 2006 with total or subtotal meniscectomy of the knee were enrolled in the study. The medial meniscus was affected in 3 cases (15%) and the lateral meniscus in 18 cases (85%).

Differential role of diphenyleneiodonium, a flavoenzyme inhibitor, on p53-dependent and -independent cell cycle progression.

We investigated the differential role of diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), which is widely used as an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, on the activation of cell cycle regulators in the cell cycle progression. DPI efficiently blocked the transition from G0/G1 to S phase by serum stimulation in quiescent HCT-116 (wild-type p53) and HL-60 (null p53) cells. Concomitant with G0/G1 arrest, HCT-116 cells treated with DPI resulted in strong and sustained upregulation of p53 and p21.

Collagen-binding motif peptide, a cleavage product of osteopontin, stimulates human neutrophil chemotaxis via pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein-mediated signaling.

The collagen-binding motif (CBM) peptide, a cleavage product of osteopontin (OPN), stimulated intracellular calcium increase in human neutrophils. CBM peptide-stimulated calcium was inhibited by pertussis toxin (PTX), suggesting the influence of PTX-sensitive G-proteins. In addition CBM peptide stimulated the chemotactic migration of human neutrophils and human monocytes.

Genistein inhibits aldose reductase activity and high glucose-induced TGF-beta2 expression in human lens epithelial cells.

Aldose reductase (AR) and TGF-beta have been implicated in the development of diabetic complications, such as cataracts. In an attempt to obtain potential agents for the prevention of diabetic cataracts from natural products, we purified genistein from the roots of Pueraria lobata and investigated its inhibitory effects upon AR activity and its antioxidant effects on rat lenses. The inhibition of AR activity by genistein increased in a dose-dependent manner and the opacities of lenses were significantly improved when treated with genistein.

Nanoscale memory cell based on a nanoelectromechanical switched capacitor.

The demand for increased information storage densities has pushed silicon technology to its limits and led to a focus on research on novel materials and device structures, such as magnetoresistive random access memory and carbon nanotube field-effect transistors, for ultra-large-scale integrated memory. Electromechanical devices are suitable for memory applications because of their excellent 'ON-OFF' ratios and fast switching characteristics, but they involve larger cells and more complex fabrication processes than silicon-based arrangements. Nanoelectromechanical devices based on carbon nanotubes have been reported previously, but it is still not possible to control the number and spatial location of nanotubes over large areas with the precision needed for the production of integrated circuits.

Self-sorted, aligned nanotube networks for thin-film transistors.

To find use in electronics, single-walled carbon nanotubes need to be efficiently separated by electronic type and aligned to ensure optimal and reproducible electronic properties. We report the fabrication of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) network field-effect transistors, deposited from solution, possessing controllable topology and an on/off ratio as high as 900,000. The spin-assisted alignment and density of the SWNTs are tuned by different surfaces that effectively vary the degree of interaction with surface functionalities in the device channel.

Acute interstitial pneumonia in siblings: a case report.

Acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP) is a rapidly progressive condition of unknown cause that occurs in a previously healthy individual and produces the histologic findings of diffuse alveolar damage. Since the term AIP was first introduced in 1986, there have been very few case reports of AIP in children. Here we present a case of AIP in a 3-yr-old girl whose other two siblings showed similar radiologic findings.

Arthroscopic treatment of mucoid hypertrophy of the anterior cruciate ligament.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical features and diagnosis of patients with mucoid hypertrophy of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and to assess the results of arthroscopic treatment.

Methods: Between May 1999 and August 2005, 156 knees in 132 patients were diagnosed with mucoid hypertrophy of the ACL and underwent arthroscopic treatment. Of these, 106 knees in 91 patients (86 women and 5 men), with a mean age of 61 years (range, 42 to 80 years), were followed up for at least 2 years.

A new pancreatic lipase inhibitor isolated from the roots of Actinidia arguta.

A new coumaroyl triterpene, 3-O-trans-p-coumaroyl actinidic acid (1), as well as five known triterpenes, ursolic acid (2), 23-hydroxyursolic acid (3), corosolic acid (4), asiatic acid (5) and betulinic acid (6) were isolated from an EtOAc-soluble extract of the roots of Actinidia arguta. The structure of compound 1 was elucidated from interpretation of the spectroscopic data, particularly by extensive 1D and 2D NMR studies. All the isolates (1-6) were evaluated in vitro for their inhibitory activities on pancreatic lipase (PL).

A copula method for modeling directional dependence of genes.

Background: Genes interact with each other as basic building blocks of life, forming a complicated network. The relationship between groups of genes with different functions can be represented as gene networks. With the deposition of huge microarray data sets in public domains, study on gene networking is now possible.

Advanced tip design for liquid phase vibration mode atomic force microscopy.

We have fabricated polymer tips for atomic force microscopy in order to elucidate the effects of tip length and shape on cantilever vibration damping in liquids. The vibration damping is investigated by measuring the vibration amplitude of cantilevers as a function of tip-sample distance. The cantilever with a short tip provides a higher damping effect over long tip-sample distances.

A case report of painless moving toes syndrome.

This is the first report of a case of painless moving toes syndrome with radiculopathy. The patient presented with bilateral painless moving toes and unilateral subclinical sacral (S1) radiculopathy. Bilateral movements with the unilateral lesion, and fluctuation with postural changes and distant muscle contraction suggest that the underlying pathomechanism was a central reorganization in the spinal level.

Aldose-reductase- and protein-glycation-inhibitory principles from the whole plant of Duchesnea chrysantha.

Ellagic acid (1), 3,3'-di-O-methylellagic acid (2), 3,3',4-tri-O-methylellagic acid (3), isovitexin (4), kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucuronide methyl ester (5), quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (6), ursolic acid, pomolic acid, tormentic acid, euscaphic acid, euscaphic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and maslinic acid were isolated from the AcOEt- and BuOH-soluble MeOH extract of Duchesnea chrysantha (whole plant). The isolates were subjected to in vitro bioassays to evaluate their inhibitory activity on rat-lens aldose reductase (RLAR) and formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The ellagic acids and flavonoids, compounds 1-6, exhibited moderate inhibitory effects on RLAR.

Effects of letrozole on proliferation and apoptosis in cultured leiomyoma cells treated with prostaglandin E(2).

Objective: The objective was to determine the direct effect of letrozole on the proliferation and apoptosis of cultured leiomyoma cells co-treated with prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)).

Study Design: Leiomyoma cells were obtained from three groups of patients who had undergone hysterectomy due to leiomyoma. Percentages of antiproliferative cells were evaluated by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and apoptosis was assessed with sub-G1 cell counts by flow cytometry and Western blot analysis.

The value of ultrasonography in the detection of meniscal tears diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasonography in meniscal tears that were diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Design: Twenty-seven knees with meniscal tears and 14 knees without tears on MRI were prospectively evaluated. A radiologist performed the ultrasonography and evaluated the presence and locations of the meniscal tears.

Redox factor-1 mediates NF-kappaB nuclear translocation for LPS-induced iNOS expression in murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7.

Redox-sensitive transcriptional regulator redox factor-1 (Ref-1) is induced by oxidative stress and protects cells against it. However, the function of Ref-1 in regulating nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in macrophages has not been defined. We investigated the role of Ref-1 related to the regulation of NO synthesis in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage RAW 264.

A good outcome for a case of chronic pneumonitis of infancy.

Chronic pneumonitis of infancy (CPI) is a very rare interstitial lung disease. Its pathological features differ from other types of interstitial pneumonia that occur in adults and children. The mortality rate of CPI is high, even with treatment.

Importance of low-range CAG expansion and CAA interruption in SCA2 Parkinsonism.

Objectives: To examine the presence of an ATXN2 mutation in patients with parkinsonism in the Korean population and to find the difference in the ATXN2 mutation between ataxic and parkinsonian phenotypes.

Design: Survey.

Setting: Seoul National University Hospital (a referral center).

Cellular defense mechanisms against benzo[a]pyrene in testicular Leydig cells: implications of p53, aryl-hydrocarbon receptor, and cytochrome P450 1A1 status.

Leydig cells of the mammalian testis produce testosterone and support spermatogenesis, and thereby their role in male function is fundamental. Although benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) has been known to exhibit carcinogenic, apoptogenic, and endocrine-disrupting activities, its potential signaling system in Leydig cells remains to be discovered. In the present study, using the TM3 Leydig cell line and primary Leydig cells, we showed that Leydig cells do not die by exposure to B[a]P and found that an increased level of X chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein may be associated with the antiapoptotic process.

Ultrasonographic measurement of shoulder subluxation in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.

Objective: To evaluate the ultrasonographic measurement of shoulder subluxation in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.

Design: Prospective, single blind study.

Patients: A total of 41 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia were included (24 men and 17 women, mean age 56 years (standard deviation 11), age range 34-78 years).

Benzo[a]pyrene induces apoptosis in RL95-2 human endometrial cancer cells by cytochrome P450 1A1 activation.

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) has been shown to be an inducer of apoptosis in some cell types. To date, due to the lack of an appropriate model system, studies of the cellular and biochemical mechanism(s) by which B[a]P induces apoptosis have been focused on Hepa1c1c7 cells. Moreover, the precise relationship between the bioactivation of B[a]P by CYP1A1 or CYP1B1 and the occurrence of cytotoxicity-mediated apoptosis requires further elucidation.

Dopamine transporter SPECT of a liver cirrhotic with atypical parkinsonism.

High level of exposure to manganese (Mn) can cause a clinically and pathophysiologically distinct syndrome from idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). We describe the clinical features and results of [123I]-fluoropropyl (FP)-CIT SPECT of a liver cirrhotic with atypical parkinsonism. The patient developed atypical parkinsonian features associated with elevated blood Mn from hepatic dysfunction.

Abundance of aryl hydrocarbon receptor potentiates benzo[a]pyrene-induced apoptosis in Hepa1c1c7 cells via CYP1A1 activation.

Although B[a]P-induced apoptosis has been demonstrated in Hepa1c1c7 cells, the cellular signaling pathway(s) by which benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) elicits a cytotoxicity-mediated apoptogenic role remains to be elucidated. In this study, we showed that B[a]P induces apoptosis in a p53-mediated and caspase-3-dependent manner, which relates to the accumulation of the S phase of the cell cycle. Importantly, we have shown for the first time that Hepa1c1c7 cells retain a considerably high content of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) protein before B[a]P exposure, assuming that this status enables the cells to respond to B[a]P more readily as well as more efficiently.

Clinicopathological significance of BGP expression in non-small-cell lung carcinoma: relationship with histological type, microvessel density and patients' survival.

Aims: Brain-type glycogen phosphorylase (BGP) is the major isoform of glycogen phosphorylase found in fetal and neoplastic tissues, and is generally thought to induce glucose supply during an ischaemic period. This study was performed to investigate BGP expression in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).

Methods: A total of 119 cases of NSCLC, including 63 squamous cell carcinomas (SqCCs) and 56 adenocarcinomas (ACs), were imunohistochemically evaluated for BGP expression, and its expression was correlated with clinicopathological parameters.