• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.52-61
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• 2006

Background: Korean ginseng (KG) has been used as a general tonic, and for voiding dysfunction for a long time in oriental society. However, scientific basic studies on the use of KG, have been rare, especially for voiding and erectile dysfunction. This study was performed to investigate the effects of KG on voiding and erectile function by examining the effects of total saponin (TS) on the bladder, urethral and penile cavernosal smooth muscle. Materials and methods: To examine the effects of TS, NewZeland white rabbits were used to obtain tissue strips from the smooth muscle of the bladder, proximal urethra and corpus cavernosum. Adult Sprague Dawley rats were used to examine the changes in urodynamic findings and penile erection after administration of TS. Results: In proximal urethral strips, the rate of relaxation of the proximal urethra was increased from $9.0{\pm}2.9$ to $33.7{\pm}4.8%$ in a dose-dependent manner when the concentration of TS was added accumulatively from 0.25 mg/ml to 4.0 mg/ml (p<0.05). However, no significant response was observed in the bladder strips within these concentration ranges. For the corpus cavernosal strips, the rate of relaxation ranged from $5.8{\pm}2.1$ to $36.7{\pm}5.8%$, increasing in a dose-dependent manner when TS was increased from 1.0 mg/ml to 4.0 mg/ml (p<0.05). After administration of 0.1 ml of TS (32 mg/ml) in the rat, the bladder pressure was $37.5{\pm}8.5$ mmHg at $52.1{\pm}7.0$ sec. during isovolumetric bladder contraction, showing no significant differences from $35.7{\pm}7.8mmHg$ and $50.7{\pm}7.2$ sec, respectively, before treatment. However, when 0.1 ml of TS (32 mg/ml) was administered, the relative reduction of urethral pressure was $6.9{\pm}0.5mmHg$ at $62{\pm}7.5$ sec, which was significantly higher compared to $4.6{\pm}1.1mmHg$ at $45{\pm}10$ sec before treatment (p<0.05). For the cavernosal injection study, the change in intracavernosal pressure (${\Delta}ICP$) was examined after administering 0.1 ml of TS. The cumulative additions of TS at concentrations from 0.5 mg/ml to 32 mg/ml increased ${\Delta}ICP$ from $1.3{\pm}0.5$ to $21.3{\pm}7.8mmHg$ in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05). The duration of tumescence was from $0.3{\pm}0.1$ to $5.2{\pm}0.2$ min, showing dose-dependent increase (p<0.05). Furthermore, the cumulative addition of TS at concentrations from 0.5 mg/ml upto 32 mg/ml did not cause any significant change in systemic blood pressure. Conclusion: These results suggest that ginseng improves voiding functions, which is mainly achieved by TS relaxing the proximal urethra, the most important part of the bladder outlet function. In addition, ginseng safely induced a penile erection hemodynamically by relaxing the corpus cavernosum.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.26-35
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• 2006

Background: Luteolin, a flavone found in various Chinese herbal medicines is known to possess anti-inflammatory properties through its ability to inhibit various proinflammatory signaling pathways including NF-${\kappa}B$ and p38 MAPK. In this study, we investigated the potential therapeutic effect of luteolin on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. Materials and Methods: We used a transgenic mouse model expressing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the transcriptional control of NF-${\kappa}B$ $cis$-elements. C57BL/6 NF-${\kappa}B^{EGFP}$ mice received 2.5% DSS in their drinking water for six days in combination with daily luteolin administration (1mg/kg body weight, 0.1ml vol, intragastric) or vehicle. NF-${\kappa}B$ activity was assessed macroscopically with a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) camera and microscopically by confocal analysis. Results: A significant increase in the Disease Activity Index (DAI), histological score (p<0.05), IL-12 p40 secretion in colonic stripe culture (p<0.05) and EGFP expression was observed in luteolin and/or DSS-treated mice compared to water-treated mice. Interestingly, a trend toward a worse colitis (DAI, IL-12p40) was observed in luteolin-treated mice compared to non-treated DSS-exposed mice. In addition, EGFP expression (NF-${\kappa}B$ activity) strongly increased in the luteolin-treated mice compared to control mice. Confocal microscopy showed that EGFP positive cells were primarily lamina propria immune cells. Conclusions: These results suggest that luteolin is not a therapeutic alternative for intestinal inflammatory disorders derived for primary defects in barrier function. Thus, therapeutic intervention targeting these signaling pathways should be viewed with caution.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.211-220
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• 2005

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a percutaneously placed self-expanding metallic stent for the relief of biliary obstruction in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Materials and Methods: From November 2001 to December 2004, 48 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma were prospectively studied. After percutaneous placement of bilateral selfexpanding, uncovered metallic stents, follow-up evaluation was carried out until July 2005. Results: There were 4 cases of Bismuth type II, 21 cases of Bismuth type IIIa, 8 cases of Bismuth type IIIb and 15 cases of Bismuth type IV. Stent placement was technically successful in all patients. All patients had satisfactory biliary drainage, resulting in one week drainage rate of 72.8% and final drainage rate of 91.1%. There were 12 cases (21.3%) of abdominal pain requiring analgesics and 1 case (7.1%) of cholangitis; both were successfully managed with conservative treatments. Late complications occurred in four patient (8.3%), including two patients with cholangitis, one patient with liver abscess, and one patient with biloma; all were appropriately managed by percutaneous drainage. The average length and median durations of stent patency and median survival time were 303 days (range, 60~815) and 338 days (range, 60~1175), respectively. Conclusion: Placement of a percutaneous metallic stent is an effective and safe method for palliation of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.166-182
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• 2005

Background: Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors are family of molecules that regulate the cell cycle. The CDKN2, a CDK4 inhibitor, also called p16, has been implicated in human tumorigenesis. The CDKN2 inhibits the cyclin/CDK complexes which regulate the transition from G1 to S phase of cell cycle. There is a previous report that homozygous deletion of CDKN2 region on chromosome 9p21 was detected frequently in astrocytoma, glioma and osteosarcoma, less frequently in lung cancer, leukemia and ovarian cancer, but not detected in colon cancer and neuroblastoma. However, little is known about the relationship between CDKN2 and laryngeal cancer. Therefore this study was initiated to investigate the role of CDKN2 in human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma development.1) Materials and methods: We used 5 human laryngeal carcinoma cell lines whether they have deletions or losses of CDKN2 gene expression by DNA-PCR or RT-PCR, respectively. We examined 8 fresh frozen human laryngeal cancer tissues to detect the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of CDKN2. PCR was performed by using microsatellite markers of short arm of human chromosome 9 (D9S126, D9S144, D9S156, D9S161, D9S162, D9S166, D9S171, D9S200 and D9SIFNA). For informative cases, allelic loss was scored if the signal of one allele was significantly decreased in tumor DNA when compared to the same allele in normal DNA. Results: The CDKN2 DNA deletion was observed in 3 cell lines. The CDKN2 mRNA expression was observed in only one cell line, which was very weak. LOH was detected in 7 cases (87.5%). Conclusion: These results suggest that CDKN2 plays a role in the carcinogenesis of human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.366-385
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• 1995

Epidemiological studies are important in both the prevention and treatment of mycobacterial infections. This study was initiated to establish the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) method, which are not yet extensively studied. The most apprpriate restriction endonucleases included DraI, AsnI, and XbaI. The optimal PFGE condition was different according to the enzymes used. Two stage PFGE was performed, in case of DraI first stage was performed with 10 seconds of initial pulse and 15 seconds of final pulse, while the second stage was performed with 60 seconds of initial pulse and 70 seconds of final pulse. The electrophoresis time for DraI-PFGE was 14 hours for each stage. Electrophoresis was performed for 22 hours, in case of XbaI, with 3 seconds of initial pulse and 12 seconds of final pulse. Electrophoresis was performed for 22 hours, in case of AsnI, with 5 seconds of initial pulse and 25 seconds of final pulse. In all cases the voltage of the electrophoresis was maintained constantly at 200 voltage. Standard mycobacterial strains, which included Mycobacterium bovis BCG, M. tuberculosis, and M. fortuitum, could not be differentiated by PFGE analysis. PFGE analysis was performed to differentiate 9 clinically isolated M. fortuitum strains using AsnI. All M. fortuitum strains showed different genotypes except 2 strains. Cluster analysis divided M. fortuitum strains into 2 large groups. PFGE analysis was performed to further differentiate M. fortuitum isolates using XbaI. The undifferentiated 2 M. fortuitum strains showed different PFGE patterns with Xba I. Cluster analysis of the XbaI-PFGE patterns showed more complex grouping than AsnI-PFGE patterns, which showed that XbaI-PFGE analysis was better than AsnI-PFGE in M. fortuitum genotyping. The top dissimilarity values of AsnI-PFGE and XbaI-PFGE were 0.74 and 0.75, respectively. This value was higher than that of arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR) analysis and lower than that of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. This suggested that PFGE can be used as a supportive or alternative genotyping method to RFLP analysis.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.113-123
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• 1995

This study was intended to identify the neurotic traits related to sexual abuse in female high school students. The Neurosis Scale of Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire was conducted to 320 female high school students in Taegu, Korea from July 10 to July 17, 1994. The results were as follows: 1) The sexual abuse victim group showed significantly higher neurotic traits of Free floating anxiety (p<0.05), Phobic(p<0.01), Obsession(p<0.01), Somatic(p<0.05), Depression(p<0.01) than the control group. 2) The Neurotic traits of Somatic(p<0.01), Depression(p<0.01), Hysteric(p<0.01) were higher in the multiple-abused than the single-abused. 3) When the duration of being abused was concerned, subjects with more than 1 year duration had significantly higher neurotic traits of Obsession(p<0.05), Somatic(p<0.05), Depression(p<0.05) than subjects with less than 1 year duration. 4) The neurotic traits of Phobic, Somatic, Depression were significantly higher in the subjects with higher intensity of sexual abuse than with lower intensity. S) Among 68 victims, 31 girls(45%) were assaulted by strangers, 10(14%) were by relatives, 7(10.3%) were by siblings, 6(8.8%) were by neihbors. Among them, 34 girls(50%) bad counselling or psychotherapy and the people to whom they had sought for help were friends(23 girls; 68%), parents (7 girls; 11.7%) and mental health professonals (2 girls; 5.9%).

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.84-95
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• 1995

A clinical and histopathological study was performed on ninety-four patients with nephrotic syndrome (91 idiopathic and 3 secondary) who were admitted to Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University Hospital during the period of nine years, from January 1985 to May 1994. The results were as following. 1. the ratio of male to female was 1.76:1. In young age group, minimal change was the most predominant type. In old age group, membranous glomerulonephritis and focal glomerulosclerosis were predominant types. 2. The primary nephrotic syndromes were 96.8% and secondary nephrotic syndromes were 3.2%. Histopathologic findings of 94 renal biopsy tissue were classified into minimal change (43.6%), mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (29.8%), membranous glomerulonephritis (12.8%), TypeI membranous proliferative glomerulonephritis (4.3%), focal glomerulosclerosis (3.2%) and others (6.4%). 3. The response of eighty-six patients treated with steroid showed complete remission in 51.2%, partial remission in 20.9%, steroid dependent in 2.3%, and no effect in 25.6% of cases respectively. The response to steroid therapy was most effective in the patients with minimal change lesion. 4. In the patient with membranous proliferative glomerulonephlitis, long-term angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor treatment showed less deterioration of renal function.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.282-291
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• 1995

We investigated HBV markers in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of 50 subjects with neurologic disorders or other disorders, who visited Dept. of neurology, college of medicine, Yeungnam University, from April-1 to August-31 1994 and were performed cerebrospinal fluid analysis to investigate the detection rate of HBV markers in cerebrospinal fluid and the possibility of neurologic disorders associated with HBV infection. The results were as follows. The positivity of HBsAg and HBV prevalence rate in serum were 6(12.0%) and 37(74.0%). The number of patient with HBsAg, only anti-HBV and no markers were 6(12.0%), 31(62.0%) and 13(26.0%), respectively. The positivity of HBsAg and HBV prevalence rate in cerebrospinal fluid were 3(6%) and 18(36.0%). The number of patient with HBsAg, only anti-HBV and no markers were 6(100.0%), 12(38.7%) and 0(0.0%) respectively. The number of patient with virus associated diseases(VAD) and non virus associated diseases(NVAD) were 26(52%) and 24(48%). The HBV prevalence rate in serum of VAD and NVAD groups were 88.5% and 58.3% (p<0.05). The HBV prevalence rate in CSF of VAD and NVAD groups were 53.8% and 16.7%(P<0.05). The HBV prevalence rate in serum and CSF of VAD and NVAD groups were 60.9% and 28.6%. Aa a conclusion, the HBV markers in the CSF were partially detected at the presence of the HBV markers in serum. The prevalance rate of HBV in the CSF was increased at the HBsAg positive in the serum and the serum and the CSF was significantly increased at the VAD group than the NVAD group.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.226-236
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• 1995

We studied to evaluate CT characteristics of bronchogenic cysts. We retrospectively evaluated CT of 11 patients with pathologically proved bronchogenic cyst. Precontrast and postcontrast CT scan was performed in all. We analyzed CT with viewpoints of location, size, attenuation on pre- and postcontrast scan, and calcification. Three of 11 bronchogenic cysts were intrapulmonary in location and eight were located in the mediastinum. Two of 3 intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts were located in the right lower lobe, and the remaining one was left lower lobe. Intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts ranged from 6cm to 12cm in diameter (average, 9.7 cm). On CT, intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts appeared as thin-wall air cyst, homogenous water attenuation and soft tissue attenuation with air bubble respectively. Mediastinal bronchogenic cysts were located in posterior mediastinum(n=5), superior mediastinum(n=2), middle mediastinum(n=1) respectively. These cysts ranged in size from 3cm to 8cm in diameter (average, 5.0 cm). On CT, five showed homogenous water attenuation, two soft tissue attenuation similar to that of muscle, one air-fluid level. Calcification or contrast enhancement was not detected in any cases. On operative findings, all of intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts contained dirty pus-like material and all of mediastinal bronchogenic cysts contained whitish or yellowish mucus material. Bronchogenic cysts showed homogenous water density in many cases, homogenous soft tissue density, air-fluid level and air-filled cyst. The constellation of CT findings may be helpful in the diagnosis and differentiation of bronchogenic cyst.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.210-225
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• 1995

The expression of $p62^{c-myc}$ and $p21^{ras}$ can be seen in many solid tumor, but the pattern and incidence of expression were different according to organ, countries, and examiners, thus it is not definitely defined. Total 67 colorectal carcinoma in paraffin sections are analysed by immunohistochemically for evaluation of the $p62^{c-myc}$ and $p21^{ras}$ expression according to the age, sex, chief complaints, location, differentiation, modified Dukes stage, using the specific monoclonal antibodies. The results were summarized as follows : The age of patients ranged from 32 years to 82 years. The mean age was 57.6 years. The expression of $p62^{c-myc}$ and $p21^{ras}$ was not correlated with age. Male was 29 cases(43.3%) and female was 38 cases(56.7%). The male to female ratio was 1:1.31. The expression of $p21^{ras}$ was increased in female(p<0.05). Abdominal pain(43.7%) was the most frequent chief complaint. The most frequent tumor location was rectum(44.8%). The expression of $p62^{c-myc}$ was increased in the rectum(p<0.05). The 65 cases(97.0%) out of 67 cases showed positive reaction of $p62^{c-myc}$ in the nucleus, cytoplasmic membrane, and cytoplasm. The 62 cases(92.5%) out of 67 cases showed positive reaction of $p21^{ras}$ in the cytoplasmic membrane and cytoplasm. The positive rate of $p62^{c-myc}$ and $p21^{ras}$ was 97.0% and 91.4% in well differentiated adenocarcinoma, 100.0% and 95.0% in moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, 90.0% and 90.0% in poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, 100.0% and 100.0% in mucinous carcinoma. The positive rate of $p62^{c-myc}$ and $p21^{ras}$ was 94.1% and 88.2% in Dukes stage $B_1$, 96.0% and 96.0% in Dukes stage $B_2$, 100.0% and 100.0% in Dukes stage $C_1$, 100.0% and 88.9% in Dukes stage $C_2$, and 100.0% and 100.0% in Dukes stage D. The expression of $p62^{c-myc}$ in metastatic colorectal carcinoma showed diffuse and strongly positive reaction than primary colorectal carcinoma. The expression of $p21^{ras}$ in primary colorectal carcinoma showed diffuse and strongly positive reaction than metastatic colorectal carcinoma.