• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.386-395
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• 2010

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) are a multipotent cell population that can differentiate into neuron-like cells. Previously it has been reported that murine BM-MSC can differentiate into neuron-like cells by co-treatment with a Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitor -Y27632 and $CoCl_2$. In this study, we compared several ROCK inhibitors for the ability to induce human BM-MSCs to differentiate into neuron-like cells in the presence of $CoCl_2$. Y27632 with high specificity for ROCK at 1-30 ${\mu}M$ was best at inducing neuronal differentiation of MSCs. Compared to HA1077 and H1152, which also effectively induced morphological change into neuron-like cells, Y27632 showed less toxicity even at 100 ${\mu}M$, and resulted in longer multiple branching processes at a wide range of concentrations at 6 h and 72 h post-induction. H89, however, which has less specificity by inhibition of protein kinase A, S6 kinase 1 and MSK1 with similar or greater potency, was less effective at inducing neuronal differentiation of MSCs. Simvastatin, which can inhibit Rho, Ras, and Rac by blocking the synthesis of isoprenoid intermediates, showed little activity for inducing morphological changes of MSCs into neuron-like cells. Accordingly, the expression patterns for neuronal cell markers,including ${\beta}$-tubulin III, neuron-specific enolase, neurofilament, and microtubule-associated protein, were consistent with the pattern of the morphological changes. The data suggest that the ROCK inhibitors with higher specificity are more effective at inducing neuronal differentiation of MSCs.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.106-109
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• 2006

Neprilysin (Nep) is known to be important to degrade $A{\beta}$ derived from amyloid precursor protein (APP) by cleavage with $\beta-and\;\gamma$-secretases. In order to determine whether a correspondence between $A{\beta}-42/{\gamma}-secretase$ activity and Nep levels exists in postnatal aging of transgenic mice expressing either neuron-specific enolase (NSE)-controlled human mutant presenilin-2 (hPS2m) or APPsw alone, the levels of Nep expression and $A{\beta}-42/{\gamma}-secretase$ activity were examined age of 5, 12, and 20 months, respectively. The levels of Nep expression in both types of transgenic brains were decreased relative to those of control mice in a aging-related manner, while the level of $A{\beta}-42/{\gamma}-secretase$ activity was reversibly increased. Thus, changes in $A{\beta}-42$ may all reflect variation in amounts of Nep enzyme.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.81-86
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• 2007

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare malignant mesenchymal neoplasm. It mainly involves the abdominal or pelvic peritoneum of male adolescents. We report here the imprint cytologic features of a case of DSRCT occurring in the intraabdominal cavity of a 21-year-old man. A microscopic examination showed moderate cellularity. The tumor cells were singly arranged and arranged in clusters. The cells had round to oval nuclei with finely granular chromatin, inconspicuous nucleoli and scanty cytoplasm. Some tumor cells showed nuclear molding, and some cells had an epitheloid appearance with a large amount of lightly eosinophilic cytoplasm. A rosette-like pattern was present. Spindle-shaped, fibroblastic stromal cells were occasionally found. The tumor cells were immunoreactive for the markers cytokeratin (AE1/AE3), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), desmin, vimentin and neuron specific enolase (NSE).

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 2024

Ten cutaneous masses from Djungarina hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) were diagnosed as nine atypical fibromas and one fibrosarcoma derived from cutaneous ganglion cell-like cells. Among these patients, nine were male and one was female. Histologically, these abnormal masses were composed of spindle-shaped or polygonal neoplastic 'ganglion cell-like' cells with abundant amphophilic vacuolated cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, these neoplastic cells were stained for vimentin, S100, and neuron-specific enolase. Out of 9 males, 3 showed positive reactions to the androgen receptor. This report provides a detailed histologic and immunohistochemical characterization of atypical fibroma, fibrosarcoma, and the tumorigenesis of ganglion cell-like cells in Djungarian hamsters.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 1994

From December 1989 to February 1993, 108 patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers(NSCLC) were studied retrospectively to evaluate radiotherapeutic significance of serum levels of NSE. We considered elevated serum neuron specific enolase(S-NSE) level as one of the neuroendocrine features in NSCLC. Histopathologic evaluation revealed 86 squamous cell carcinomas, 11 adenocarcinomas.3 large cell carcinomas, 3 mucoepidermoid carcinomas, and 5 unknown pathology. Eight Patients had stage 1,40 stage IlIA, and 60 stage lIIB.S-NSE level greater than 15 ng/ml was considered as elevated, and below this considered as normal. All patients recieved radiotherapy as primary treatment modality. The responders to radiotherapy had significantly higher mean S-NSE level than non-responders (28.5 ng/ml vs 20 ng/ml, p=0.01). Overall 2-year survival rate(YSR) was 23.6$ \% $. According to radiotherapy response, 2 YSR for Patients with CR, PR, and NR were 39.2$ \% $, 28.6$ \% $, and 6.2$ \% $ respectively(p=0.001). 2 YSR for patients with elevated and normal S-NSE were 14.6$ \% $ and 31.7$ \% $(p=0.02). The patients with NR showed no difference in survival according to S-NSE level. When we considered all patients, S-NSE level showed no significant impact on response. But for squamous cell carcinomas alone, patients with elevated S-NSE had more responders(80$ \% $ vs 61$ \% $, p=0.05). There was no correlation between tumor characteristics and S-NSE level. But the patients with elevated S-NSE had more patients with higher nodal stage, Based on our and other datas, NSCLC with neuroendocrine features have different response to treatment and clinical behavior compared to other NSCLC. Thus, this subgroup may need different treatment modality, and S-NSE level may have prognostic significance.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1493-1498
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• 2008

We defined factors affecting the postoperative outcome in adult cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Thirty-two adult patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery participated in this study. Levels of leukocyte, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), troponin-I (cTNI), interleukin-6 (IL-6), D-dimer and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) were significantly elevated, whereas platelet count declined in cardiac surgery with CPB. GOT and D-dimer levels at CPB-off each had a positive significant correlation significantly with 24 hrs-bleeding, total bleeding, mechanical ventilatory assist time, ICU stay time and length of hospitalization. BUN levels at CPB-off were directly related to total bleeding, mechanical ventilatory assist time, ICU stay time and length of hospitalization. Platelet count at CPB-off was inversely related to mechanical ventilatory assist time, ICU stay time and length of hospitalization. Creatinine concentration at CPB-off interrelated positively with mechanical ventilatory assist time and ICU stay time. NSE levels at CPB-off had a positive relationship with postoperative 24 hrs-bleeding. The length of hospitalization was prolonged proportionally to the elevation of cTNI levels in cardiac surgery. Aortic cross-clamping and total CPB times also related with increase of 24 hrs and total bleeding volumes and the length of hospitalization. IL-6 and ET-1 had no mutual relation with any postoperative outcome. These data suggest that GOT, BUN, creatinine, D-dimer and platelet levels are the most important factors affecting postoperative outcomes and patient's recovery in adult cardiac surgery with CPB.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.111-120
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• 1990

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a distinct subtype of cervical cancer that appears analogous to oat cell carcinoma and carcinoid tumors of the lung. It has been assumed to be derived from the neural crest via argyrophilic cells in the normal endocervix. We have recently encountered a case of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix coexisting with adenocarcinoma which was argyrophil negative. A 66-year-old multiparous woman was admitted because of vaginal bleeding for 2 months. Cervicovaginal smear revealed several scattered clusters and sheets of monotonous small cells with some peripheral palisading in the background of hemorrhage and necrosis. Radical hysterectomy specimen revealed an ulcerofungating tumor on endocervical canal which was composed of two components. Major component of the tumor was made up of monomorphic population of small oval-shaped tumor cells arranged in sheets and partly in acinar structures or trabecular fashion. Other component was adenocarcinoma, endocervical well-differentiated type. Argyrophilia was present on the Grimelius stain and immunohistochemical studies revealed diffuse positivity to neuron-specific enolase and carcinoembryonic antigen. Electron microscopic examination showed clusters of small round to oval cells, which had a few well-formed desmosomes and several membrane-bound, dense-core neurosectetory granules.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4369-4371
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• 2013

Objective: To evaluate the association of a diagnosis of lung cancer and combined detection of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrateantigen 19-9 (CA19-9), neuron specific enolase (NSE) as well as the cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1). Methods: Serum CEA, CA19-9, NSE and CYFRA21-1 were assessed in 150 patients with lung cancer, 100 patients with benign lung disease and 100 normal control subjects, and differences of expression were compared in each group, and joint effects of these tumor markers in the diagnosis of lung cancer were analyzed. Results: Serum CEA, CA19-9, NSE and CYFRA21-1 in patients with lung cancer were significantly higher than those with benign lung disease and normal controls (p<0.01). It is suggested that these four tumor markers combined together could produce a positive detection rate of 90.2%, significantly higher than that of any single test. Conclusion: Combination detection of CEA, CA19-9, NSE and CYFRA21-1 could significantly improve the sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis of lung cancer, and could be important in early detection.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.407-416
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• 2005

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for cardiac surgery induces the production and release of numerous chemotactic substances and cytokines, ensuing systemic inflammatory response that causes postoperative major organ dysfunctions. We performed a randomized, prospective study to investigate clinical effects of preoperative treated-methylprednisolone for preventing inflammation in pediatric cardiac surgery with CPB. Thirty pediatric patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery were randomized to either control(n=15) or steroid group (n=15, 10 mg/kg of methylprednisolone). Arterial blood samples were taken before and after the operations for measuring total leukocyte (T-WBC) and differential counts, platelet counts, interleukin-6 (IL-6), myeloperoxidase (MPO), neuron specific enolase (NSE), troponin-I (TNI), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine levels. Postoperative parameters such as pulmonary index (PI, $PaO_2/FiO_2$), 24 hrs and total bleeding volumes, mechanical ventilating (MVP) and intensive care unit (ICU)-staying periods, and hospitalization were assessed. T-WBC, neutrophil fraction, IL-6, MPO, NSE, TNI, AST and creatinine levels, bleeding volumes, PI, and MVP at the postoperative periods were lower or shorter in steroid group than in control group (P<0.05). These findings indicated that preoperative administration of methylprednisolone attenuated CPB-induced inflammatory reactions, contributing to postoperative recovery of patients underwent cardiac surgery.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.615-625
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• 2008

Over a last decade, intense interest has been focused on biomarker discovery and their clinical uses. This interest is accelerated by the completion of human genome project and the progress of techniques in proteomics. Especially, cancer biomarker discovery is eminent in this field due to its anticipated critical role in early diagnosis, therapy guidance, and prognosis monitoring of cancers. Among cancers, lung cancer, one of the top three major cancers, is the one showing the highest mortality because of failure in early diagnosis. Numerous potential DNA biomarkers such as hypermethylations of the promoters and mutations in K-ras, p53, and protein biomarkers; carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CYFRA21-1, plasma kallikrein B1 (KLKB1), Neuron-specific enolase, etc. have been discovered as lung cancer biomarkers. Despite extensive studies thus far, few are turned out to be useful in clinic. Even those used in clinic do not show enough sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility for general use. This review describes what the cancer biomarkers are for, various types of lung cancer biomarkers discovered at present and predicted future advance in lung cancer biomarker discovery with proteomics technology.