• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4933-4938
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• 2014

Background: Although various tumor markers have been utilized in management of stomach cancer (SC), only a few reports have described relevance of examples such as CYFRA 21-1 and neuron-specific enolase (NSE). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential diagnostic performance of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 19-9, CA72-4, CYFRA 21-1 and NSE in patients with SC. Materials and Methods: Ninety-six SC patients with pathologic confirmation between 2012 and 2013 were enrolled. Serum levels of five tumor markers were analyzed using a solid-phase immunoradiometric assay. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted for the five tumor markers to investigate their diagnostic powers and adjusted cutoff values derived from analysis of ROC curves were evaluated to calculate the sensitivity of each for SC with recommended cutoff values. Results: Based on two different cutoff values (recommended and adjusted), CYFRA 21-1 (${\geq}2.0$ and 1.2 ng/ml) had a respective sensitivity of 50% and 78.1%, compared with 8.3% and 18.8% for CEA (${\geq}7.0$ and 3.9 ng/ml), 15.6% and 18.8% for CA 19-9 (${\geq}37$ and 26.7 ng/ml), 28.1% and 9.6% for CA 72-4 (${\geq}4.0$ and 13 ng/ml) and 7.3% and 7.3% for NSE (${\geq}14.7$ and 15.0 ng/ml) in the initial staging of primary SC. The area under the curve (AUC) for CYFRA 21-1, with a value of 0.978 (95% confidence interval, 0.964-0.991) was comparatively the highest. Univariate analysis revealed significant relationships between tumor marker level and lymph node involvement, metastasis and staging with CYFRA 21-1, CA 72-4 and NSE. Conclusions: CYFRA 21-1 was the most sensitive tumor marker and showed the most powerful diagnostic performance among the five SC tumor markers. NSE and CA 72-4 are significantly related to lymph node involvement, metastasis or stage. Further evaluations are warranted to clarify the clinical usefulness and prognostic prediction of these markers in SC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9773-9779
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• 2014

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the prime causes of mortality around the globe, with a significantly rising incidence in the Middle East region in recent decades. Since detection of CRC in the early stages is an important issue, and also since to date there are no comprehensive epidemiologic studies depicting the Middle East region with special attention to the average risk group, further investigation is of significant necessity in this regard. Aim: Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of the colon in an average risk population. Materials and Methods: A total of 1,208 eligible asymptomatic, average- risk adults older than 40 years of age, referred to Firuzgar Hospotal in the years 2008-2012, were enrolled. They underwent colonoscopy screening and all polypoid lesions were removed and examined by an expert gastrointestinal pathologist. The lesions were classified by size, location, numbers and pathologic findings. Size of lesions was measured objectively by endoscopists. Results: The mean age of participants was $56.5{\pm}9.59$ and 51.6% were male. The overall polyp detection rate was 199/1208 (16.5 %), 26 subjects having non-neoplastic polyps, including hyperplastic lesions, and 173/1208 (14.3%) having neoplastic polyps, of which 26 (2.15%) were advanced neoplasms. The prevalence of colorectal neoplasia was more common among the 50-59 age group. Advanced adenoma was more frequent among the 60-69 age group. The majority of adenomas were detected in the distal colon, but a quarter of advanced adenomas were found in the proximal colon; advance age and male gender was associated with the presence of adenoma. Conclusions: It seems that CRC screening among average-risk population might be recommended in countries such as Iran. However, sigmioidoscopy alone would miss many colorectal adenomas. Furthermore, the 50-59 age group could be considered as an appropriate target population for this purpose in Iran.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1071-1077
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• 2017

A rise in the occurrence of allergic diseases is attributed to the dysregulated balance of type 1/type 2 immunity, where type 2 T-helper (Th2) cells predominate over type 1 T-helper (Th1) cells, leading to an abnormally increased production of IgE in response to unharmful antigens. Kimchi, a traditional Korean fermented food, is a rich source of beneficial lactic acid bacteria. In this study, we investigated the ability of Enterococcus faecium FC-K derived from kimchi to induce type I immunity in the presence of Th2 polarizing conditions in vitro and in vivo. Stimulation of mouse peritoneal macrophages with E. faecium FC-K induced the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-12. Under the in vitro Th2 conditions in which splenic T cells were activated in the presence of IL-4, E. faecium FC-K enhanced the ability of T cells to produce interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}$. Using the ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergy model, male BALB/c mice receiving E. faecium FC-K reduced the serum level of total IgE, but not that of OVA-specific IgE. Furthermore, the population of activated splenic B cells during OVA immunization was decreased in E. faecium FC-K-treated mice, accounting for a reduction of total IgE in the serum. Restimulating splenocytes from OVA-immunized mice with OVA ex vivo resulted in an increased production of $IFN-{\gamma}$, with no effect on IL-4, in E. faecium FC-K-treated mice. These observations provide the evidence that E. faecium FC-K can be a beneficial probiotic strain that can modulate the Th2-mediated pathologic response.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.105-108
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• 2011

Extra-skeletal chondroma, characterized by its lack of connection with the adjacent bone, includes synovial chondromatosis, intra-articular and para-articular chondroma, and soft tissue chondroma. Among them, the last two lesions are extremely rare. This is the case about 20-year-old soldier, who had complained of tenderness of the knee, pain and fullness during knee flexion and limitation of motion after a hard military training. We found a mass in the x-ray and MRI and resect the mass surgically, which was a $5.5{\times}4{\times}3$ cm size hard solitary mass. On microscopic finding, it was consisted of lobulated hyaline cartilage and outer fibrous capsule, and we ascertained it as para-articular chondroma. We experienced a case of para-articular chondroma in the infrapatellar fat pad of the knee joint and present its clinical, radiologic and pathologic findings with literature review.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.395-399
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• 2001

Primary spinal epidural lymphoma(SEL), i.e. occurring in the absence of any detectable extraspinal lymphoproliferative disorder, is an unusual cause of spinal cord compression. The authors report a 48-year-old, diabetic woman presented with back pain followed by acute paraparesis and voiding difficulty. She had been treated with acupunctures on her back before admission, and complete blood count showed leukocytosis with neutrophilia and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR). Thoracic spine magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) revealed an epidural mass extending from T5 to T8 with compression of the spinal cord. Emergency decompressive laminectomy was performed with a tentative diagnosis of spinal epidural abscess, but a B-cell lymphoma was final pathologic diagnosis. Further staging showed no other sites of lymphoma, and the spinal lesion was treated by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The authors stress that primary SEL can mimic spinal epidural abscess(SEA) in the diabetic patient and should be a diagnostic consideration in patients with a syndrome of acute spinal cord compression manifested by a prodrome of back pain and neuroimaging consistent with an epidural compressive lesion, especially in a diabetic.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1153-1160
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• 2000

Objectives : This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of noncompetitive NMDA receptor blocker, MK801 on motor recovery, SSEP and pathology in spinal cord injured rat. Methods : The effects of MK801 on neuronal function protection, SSEP, and pathology were measured on spinal cord injury rats which were divided into 6 groups according to dose, time of drug delivery and magnitude of injury. Spinal cord injury was made with the magnitude of 25gm-cm and 50gm-cm on 42 rats. BBB locomotor function test was performed to evaluate the motor power recovery in hindlimb for 2 weeks after injury. After motor function test was completed, SSEP was measured. Amplitude and latency of the P1, N1 peak was measured and compared between groups. Finally rats were sacrificed, and pathologic findings including measurement of area of necrotic cord were studied and compared between groups. Results : Motor recovery at 2 weeks was better in MK801 group comparing to saline control group. SSEP at 2 weeks showed no difference in N1, P1 latencies, but significantly greater amplitude in MK801 group, compared to saline control group. On light microscope, there was no specific histologic differences between experimental groups. The cystic necrotic area in coronal plane was measured and compared in each group. The necrotic area was significantly smaller in MK801 1mg/kg group(delivered after injury) than vehicle group. The necrotic area in MK801 5mg/kg group and MK801 1mg/kg group(delivered before injury) was smaller than vehicle group even though it was not statistically significant. Conclusion : From the above result, it is speculated that NMDA blocker, MK801 can improve impaired neuronal function in spinal cord injury.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2007

Objective : The authors tried to reveal some unique features of lipomeningomyelocele (LMMC), including clinical presentation, factors precipitating onset of symptoms, pathologic entities of LMMC associated with tethered cord syndrome, and surgical outcome in LMMC patients. Methods : Seventy-five patients with LMMC were enrolled in this study. Neuro-imaging and intraoperative findings allowed classification of LMMC into three Types. The patients were divided into two groups by age : A (51 patients), from birth to 3 years, and B (24 patients), from 3 to 24 years. For prevention of retethering of the cord, a mega-dural sac rebuilding procedure was performed in 15 patients. Results : During a mean postoperative follow-up period of 4 years, the surgical outcome was satisfactory in terms of improved pain and motor weakness, but disappointing with reference to the resolution of bowel and bladder dysfunction. Among these 75 patients with LMMC, preoperative deficits were improved after surgery in 29 (39%), remained stable in 28 (37%), changed slightly in 13 (17%), and worsened in 5 (7%). Patients in group A achieved better outcomes than those in group B. Depending on the type of lesion, patients with types I and II LMMC have better outcomes than those with type III LMMC. Finally, retethering of the cord with neurological deterioration occurred in 4 (5.3%) of the 75 patients, but no retethering was found in the 15 patients who were recently treated with a mega-dural sac rebuilding procedure. Conclusion : Our data continue to support the opinion that early diagnosis and optimal surgery are still essential for the treatment of patients with LMMC, since there is a high likelihood of residual neurological functions that can be preserved. Based on our surgical experience of untethering and decompression of lipomas, a mega-dural sac repair is useful to prevent retethering of the cord.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.20-30
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• 2010

Objective : We determined whether the expression of GRIM-19 is correlated with pathologic types and malignant grades in gliomas, and determined the function of GRIM-19 in human gliomas. Methods : Tumor tissues were isolated and frozen at $-80^{\circ}C$ just after surgery. The tissues consisted of normal brain tissue (4), astrocytomas (2), anaplastic astrocytomas (2), oligodendrogliomas (13), anaplastic oligodendrogliomas (11), and glioblastomas (16). To profile tumor-related genes, we applied RNA differential display using a $Genefishing^{TM}$ DEG kit, and validated the tumor-related genes by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A human glioblastoma cell line (U343MG-A) was used for the GRIM-19 functional studies. The morphologic and cytoskeletal changes were examined via light and confocal microscopy. The migratory and invasive abilities were investigated by the simple scratch technique and Matrigel assay. The antiproliferative activity was determined by thiazolyl blue Tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and FACS analysis. Results : Based on RT-PCR analysis, the expression of GRIM-19 was higher in astrocytic tumors than oligodendroglial tumors. The expression of GRIM-19 was higher in high-grade tumors than low-grade tumors or normal brain tissue; glioblastomas showed the highest expression. After transfection of GRIM-19 into U343MG-A, the morphology of the sense-transfection cells became larger and more spindly. The antisensetransfection cells became smaller and rounder compared with wild type U343MG-A. The MTT assay showed that the sense-transfection cells were more sensitive to the combination of interferon-$\beta$ and retinoic acid than U343MG-A cells or antisense-transfection cells; the antiproliferative activity was related to apoptosis. Conclusion : GRIM-19 may be one of the gene profiles which regulate cell death via apoptosis in human gliomas.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2013

Astrocytes are reported to have critical functions in ischemic brain injury including protective effects against ischemia-induced neuronal dysfunction. Na-K ATPase maintains ionic gradients in astrocytes and is suggested as an indicator of ischemic injury in glial cells. Here, we examined the role of the Na-K ATPase in the pathologic process of ischemic injury of primary cultured astrocytes. Chemical ischemia was induced by sodium azide and glucose deprivation. Lactate dehydrogenase assays showed that the cytotoxic effect of chemical ischemia on astrocytes began to appear at 2 h of ischemia. The expression of Na-K ATPase ${\alpha}1$ subunit protein was increased at 2 h of chemical ischemia and was decreased at 6 h of ischemia, whereas the expression of ${\alpha}1$ subunit mRNA was not changed by chemical ischemia. Na-K ATPase activity was time-dependently decreased at 1, 3, and 6 h of chemical ischemia, whereas the enzyme activity was temporarily recovered to the control value at 2 h of chemical ischemia. Cytotoxicity at 2 h of chemical ischemia was significantly blocked by reoxygenation for 24 h following ischemia. Reoxygenation following chemical ischemia for 1 h significantly increased the activity of the Na-K ATPase, while reoxygenation following ischemia for 2 h slightly decreased the enzyme activity. These results suggest that the critical time for ischemia-induced cytotoxicity of astrocytes might be 2 h after the initiation of ischemic insult and that the increase in the expression and activity of the Na-K ATPase might play a protective role during ischemic injury of astrocytes.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2009

Digital Mammography is an efficient imaging technique for the detection and diagnosis of breast pathological disorders. Six mammographic criteria such as number of cluster, number, size, extent and morphologic shape of microcalcification, and presence of mass, were reviewed and correlation with pathologic diagnosis were evaluated. It is very important to find breast cancer early when treatment can reduce deaths from breast cancer and breast incision. In screening breast cancer, mammography is typically used to view the internal organization. Clusterig microcalcifications on mammography represent an important feature of breast mass, especially that of intraductal carcinoma. Because microcalcification has high correlation with breast cancer, a cluster of a microcalcification can be very helpful for the clinical doctor to predict breast cancer. For this study, three steps of quantitative evaluation are proposed : DoG filter, adaptive thresholding, Expectation maximization. Through the proposed algorithm, each cluster in the distribution of microcalcification was able to measure the number calcification and length of cluster also can be used to automatically diagnose breast cancer as indicators of the primary diagnosis.