• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제44권6호
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• pp.406-412
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• 2011

Background: Development of thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections (TAAD) is attributed to unbearable wall tension superimposed on defective aortic wall integrity and impaired aortic repair mechanisms. Central to this repair mechanisms are well-balanced and adequately functional cellular components of the aortic wall, including endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells (SMCs), inflammatory cells, and adventitial fibroblasts. Adventitial fibroblasts naturally produce aortic extracellular matrix (ECM), and, when aortic wall is injured, they can be transformed into SMCs, which in turn are involved in aortic remodeling. We postulated the hypothesis that adventitial fibroblasts in patients with TAAD may have defects in ECM production and SMC transformation. Materials and Methods: Adventitial fibroblasts were procured from the adventitial layer of fresh aortic tissues of patients with TAAD (Group I) and of multi-organ donors (Group II), and 4-passage cell culture was performed prior to the experiment. To assess ECM production, cells were treated with TNF-${\alpha}$ (50 pM) and the expression of MMP-2/MMP-3 was analyzed using western blot technique. To assess SMC transformation capacity, cells were treated with TGF-${\beta}1$ and expression of SM ${\alpha}$-actin, SM-MHC, Ki-67 and SM calponin was evaluated using western blot technique. Fibroblasts were then treated with TGF-${\beta}1$ (10 pM) for up to 10 days with TGF-${\beta}1$ supplementation every 2 days, and the proportion of transformed SMC in the cell line was measured using immunofluorescence assay for fibroblast surface antigen every 2 days. Results: MMP-3 expression was significantly lower in group I than in group II. TGF-${\beta}1$-stimulated adventitial fibroblasts in group I expressed less SM ${\alpha}$-actin, SM-MHC, and Ki-67 than in group II. SM-calponin expression was not different between the two groups. Presence of fibroblast was observed on immunofluorescence assay after more than 6 days of TGF-${\beta}1$ treatment in group I, while most fibroblasts were transformed to SMC within 4 days in group II. Conclusion: ECM production and SMC transformation are compromised in adventitial fibroblasts from patients with TAAD. This result suggests that functional restoration of adventitial fibroblasts could well be a novel approach for the prevention and treatment of TAAD.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.143-150
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• 1992

The purpose of this study is to obtain the effective concentration of capsaicin to relieve pain with no change in the number of C-fibers and its effective duration for pain relief. Capsaicin has been used extremely as a experimental tool and as topical medications for acute or chronic tissue injuries and partial nerve injury is the main cause of causalgiform pain disorders in humans. Here, the left sciatic nerve was ligated unilaterally at the high level of the thigh to prepare an animal model of this pain condition. The rat developed guarding behavior of the ipsilateral hind paw within a few hours after the operation and this behavior was maintained for several months thereafter, suggesting the possibility of spontaneous pain. These animals were divided into two groups(4-week & 8-week) and each group was subdivided into five groups by different concentration (0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 & 2.0%). Each capsaicin concentration was treated locally on the spinal cord-side of the ligated nerve and the foot withdrawal latency was measured. Thereafter, the dorsal roots of L5 were removed from both sides immediately after in tracardial perfusion for the counting of C-fibers by the histological procedure. There were no significant differences in the foot-withdrawal latency and the number of C-fibers between the left side treated with 0.05% capsaicin and the right side treated with the vehicle. However, latencies of the left sides treated with 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0% capsaicin increased significantly throughout 4-6 weeks with almost no change in the number of C-fibers, and the latencies showed the trends to approach slowly to those of the conditions after operation. The latency of subgroup treated with 2.0% increased by approximate 10% more than that of the right side throughout 8 weeks, and the number of C-fibers decreased by about 30% or more These results suggest that the elevated latency with capsaicin(0.1-1.0%) treatment is due to the inhibition of impulse transmission throughout the primary afferent fiber and the data from 2.0% are due to partial destruction of C-fibers. Therefore, capsaicin concentrations from 0.1% to 1.0% are probably very effective for the treatment of causalgiform pain with almost no destruction of C-fibers.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.116-119
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• 2013

A burnt-out prostate cancer tumor is a very rare clinical entity. The term 'burnt-out' refers to a primary tumor that has spontaneously and nearly completely regressed without treatment. Since metastasis of prostate cancer is usually encountered in the presence of advanced disease, distant metastasis with an undetectable primary tumor is very rare. We report herein a case of a burnt-out prostate cancer tumor that metastasized to the thoracic (T) spine and caused cord compression. A 66-year-old man visited the Emergency Department due to weakness of both legs for the past two days. His blood and urine tests were normal at the time. His spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans looked like bone metastasis that involved the T-7 vertebral body and a posterior element, and caused spinal cord compression. Other images, including from the brain MRI, neck/chest/abdomino-pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) and endoscopy, revealed no lesions that suggested malignancy. After total corpectomy T-7 and screw fixation/fusion at T5 to T10, the pathology report revealed a metastatic carcinoma that was strongly positive for prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The serum PSA value was 1.5 ng/mL. The transrectal 12-core prostate biopsy and ultrasonography showed no definitive hypoechoic lesion, but one specimen had slight (only 1%) adenocarcinoma with a Gleason score of 6 (3+3). The final diagnosis was burned-out prostate cancer with an initial normal PSA value. Although metastatic disease with an unknown primary origin was confirmed, a more aggressive approach in seeking the primary origin could provide a more specific treatment strategy and greater clinical benefit to patients.

• 대한환경공학회지
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• 제37권9호
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• pp.533-541
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• 2015

일본의 "유역별 하수도정비종합계획"(이하 '유총계획') 및 비와호 유역하수도를 소개하고 이를 바탕으로 국내에서 2013년도부터 수립 시행되고 있는 "유역하수도정비계획"의 발전방향 등을 제시하였다. 일본의 유총계획은 환경기본법에서 정하는 수질환경기준을 준수하기 위한 계획으로 비와호의 경우는 지자체의 조례에 의한 가중 배수기준보다 더 엄격한 기준을 적용하여 수립 시행하고 있는 것으로 분석되었다. 특히 비와호의 경우는 응집제첨가다단소화탈질법 등의 고도처리공법을 건설초기단계부터 적용하여 방류수의 수질항목별 농도가 BOD 0.9 mg/L, SS 0.6 mg/L, T-N 5.5 mg/L, T-P 0.06 mg/L였으며 BOD의 처리효율은 99.5%로 매우 높았다. 도입초기단계인 국내 유역하수도계획의 발전을 위해서는 평가항목의 다양화, 비용최소화, 건설 및 유지 보조금제도 개선, 경제적 개념의 배출부하량조정시스템의 도입, 유역하수도 개념 적립 등의 적용 방법 등을 장기적인 관점에서 연구할 필요가 있다.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제18권7호
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• pp.539-547
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• 2017

본 연구는 작업치료를 전공하는 학생을 대상으로 재난 및 외상 후 스트레스장애에 대한 인식 조사를 실시하여 그 결과를 향후 작업치료 교육에 필요한 기초자료를 제공할 목적으로 진행되었다. 전국에 있는 3년제와 4년제 대학의 작업치료과 재학생 545명에 대한 설문조사를 실시하여 연구를 진행하였다. 설문조사결과는 SPSS 19.0 win 프로그램을 활용하여 빈도 분석(Frequency analysis)을 통해 빈도백분율을 산출하였다. 분석된 설문자료의 검증을 위하여 카이제곱검정을 실시하였다. 설문항에 대한 Cronbach'alpha는 0.891이다. 조사결과에 의하면 작업치료를 전공으로 하고 있는 학습자의 약 20%가 외상 후 스트레스장애의 증상 및 발생기전 그리고 진단기준에 대해서 인지하지 못하였다. 산업재해를 통해 신체적인 손상뿐 아니라 외상 후 스트레스장애와 같은 정신적인 증상을 초래하는 근본적인 이유에 대한 지식은 Likert 5점 척도로 2.92로 충분하지 못했다. 재활치료를 효과적으로 하기 위해서 작업치료적인 측면에서 접근하는 교육을 실시하여야 하는가에 대해서는 Likert 5점 척도로 3.90으로 매우 중요하게 생각하였다. 재난에 대한 인지도간의 상관성보다 재난에 대한 교육의 필요성에 대한 Pearson 상관계수가 높게 나타났다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.743-748
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• 2016

Background: $K^-Ras$ activation is an early event in colorectal carcinogenesis and associated mutations have been reported in about 40% of colorectal cancer patients. These mutations have always been responsible for enhancing malignancy and silencing them is associated with attenuation of tumorigenicity. Among downstream effectors are the RAF/MEK/ERK and the PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. PI3K/Akt signaling leads to reduction of apoptosis, stimulated cell growth and enhanced proliferation. Ellagic acid (EA), a naturally occurring antioxidant, has recently emerged as a promising anti-cancer agent. Purpose: To evaluate the impact of cellular genetic makeup of two colon cancer cell lines with different genetic backgrounds, HCT-116 ($K^-Ras^-/p53^+$) and Caco-2 ($K^-Ras^+/p53^-$), on response to potential anti-tumour effects of EA. In addition, the influence of $K^-Ras$ silencing in HCT-116 cells was investigated. Materials and Methods: Cellular proliferation, morphology and cell cycle analysis were carried out in addition to Western blotting for detecting total Akt and p-Akt (at Thr308 and Ser473) in the presence and absence of different concentrations of EA. Cell proliferation was also assessed in cells transfected with different concentrations of $K^-Ras$ siRNA or incubated with ellagic acid following transfection. Results: The results of the present study revealed that EA exerts anti-proliferative and dose-dependent pro-apoptotic effects. Cytostatic and cytotoxic effects were also observed. p-Akt (at Thr308 and Ser473) was downregulated. Moreover, EA treatment was found to (i) reduce $K^-Ras$ protein expression; (ii) in cells transfected with siRNA and co-treated with EA, pronounced anti-proliferative effects as well as depletion of p-Akt (at Thr308) were detected. Conclusions: Cellular genetic makeup ($K^-Ras^-/p53^-$) was not likely to impose limitations on targeting EA in treatment of colon cancer. EA had a multi-disciplinary pro-apoptotic anti-proliferative approach, having inhibited Akt phosphorylation, induced cell cycle arrest and showed an anti-proliferative potential in HCT-116 cells (expressing mutant $K^-Ras$).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권6호
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• pp.2523-2526
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• 2012

Introduction: Febrile neutropenia is a relatively frequent event in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and improvement in absolute neutrophil count (ANC) has been linked directly to improved outcome. Evaluation of granulocyte colony stimulating factors (GCSFs) for treatment has shown reduced incidences of episodes of prolonged neutropenia and protracted hospitalization. To determine absolute neutrophil counts with GCSF in febrile neutropenic cancer patients admitted to a tertiary care centre and to co-relate the improvement in ANC with mortality and hospital discharge. Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was carried at an oncology ward at Aga Khan University hospital from January 2010 to June 2011. All adult patients who were admitted and treated with GCSF for chemotherapy induced febrile neutropenia were included. Multivariable regression was conducted to identify the factors related with poor outcomes. Results: A total of 131 patients with febrile neutropenia were identified with mean age of 43.2 (18-85) years, 79 (60%) being ${\leq}50$. Seventy-five (57%) had solid tumors and 56 (43%) hematological malignancies, including lymphoma. Fifty seven (43.5%) had an ANC less 100 cells/$mm^3$, 34 (26%) one between 100-300 cells/$mm^3$ and 40 (31%) an ANC greater than 300 cells/$mm^3$. Thirty (23%) patients showed ANC recovery in 1-3 days, and 74(56%) within 4-7 days. Thirteen (10%) patients showed no recovery. The overall mortality was 18 (13.7%) patients. The mean time for ANC recovery seen in hematological malignancies was 6.34 days whereas for solid tumors it was 4.88 days. Patients with ANC <100 cells/$mm^3$ were more likely to die than patients with ANC >300 cells/$mm^3$ by a factor of 4.3. Similarly patients >50 years of age were 2.7 times more likely to die than younger patients. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that use of GCSF, in addition to intravenous antibiotics, in treatment of patients with chemotherapy induced febrile neutropenia accelerates neutrophil recovery, and shortens antibiotic therapy and hospitalization. We propose to risk classify the patients at the time of admission to evaluate the cost effectiveness of this approach in a resource constrained setup.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권12호
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• pp.7045-7056
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• 2013

Since the first report of RNA interference (RNAi) less than a decade ago, this type of molecular intervention has been introduced to repress gene expression in vitro and also for in vivo studies in mammals. Understanding the mechanisms of action of synthetic small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) underlies use as therapeutic agents in the areas of cancer and viral infection. Recent studies have also promoted different theories about cell-specific targeting of siRNAs. Design and delivery strategies for successful treatment of human diseases are becomingmore established and relationships between miRNA and RNAi pathways have been revealed as virus-host cell interactions. Although both are well conserved in plants, invertebrates and mammals, there is also variabilityand a more complete understanding of differences will be needed for optimal application. RNA interference (RNAi) is rapid, cheap and selective in complex biological systems and has created new insight sin fields of cancer research, genetic disorders, virology and drug design. Our knowledge about the role of miRNAs and siRNAs pathways in virus-host cell interactions in virus infected cells is incomplete. There are different viral diseases but few antiviral drugs are available. For example, acyclovir for herpes viruses, alpha-interferon for hepatitis C and B viruses and anti-retroviral for HIV are accessible. Also cancer is obviously an important target for siRNA-based therapies, but the main problem in cancer therapy is targeting metastatic cells which spread from the original tumor. There are also other possible reservations and problems that might delay or even hinder siRNA-based therapies for the treatment of certain conditions; however, this remains the most promising approach for a wide range of diseases. Clearly, more studies must be done to allow efficient delivery and better understanding of unwanted side effects of siRNA-based therapies. In this review miRNA and RNAi biology, experimental design, anti-viral and anti-cancer effects are discussed.

• 자원리싸이클링
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.16-36
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• 2005

최근 들어 산업화된 국가에서 승용차의 대수는 비약적으로 증가하고 있으며 이러한 추세는 당분간 지속될 것으로 예상된다. 따라서 사용 후 폐기되는 자동차의 대수 또한 증가할 것이며 이를 재활용하는 문제가 심각히 제기되고 있다. 이러한 문제를 해결하기 위해 2000년 9월 유럽에서 제정된 폐기 자동차의 처리에 관한 규제 조항이 독일에서는 2002년 7월 1일부터 법률로서의 효력을 지니게 되었다. 이 법률 제정의 장기적 목표는 차후 10년 내에 폐자동차를 처리하는 과정에서 발생하는 잔류물을 현재의 30 Wt.%에서 5 t.% 미만으로 줄이는 데 있다. 따라서 차후 자동차를 구성하는 재료들에 대한 좀더 혁신적이고도 효율적인 재활용 기술에 대한 개발 필요성이 대두되고 있다. 자동차 생산 산업에서 디자인 공정은 계속하여 변화되고 있는 바, 이는 자동차 운행 시 연료를 절감하기 위한 선택적 장치와 새로운 기술적인 해결책에 대한 요구가 강하게 제기되고 있기 때문이다. 따라서 자동차 제조에 사용되는 재료로서 알루미늄과 플라스틱 등과 같은 가벼운 재료들의 사용량은 증가하고 있으며 철과 같은 무거운 재료들은 그 사용량이 점차 감소하고 있다. 그런데 자동차 구성 재료들 가운데 플라스틱류는 흔히 합성된 상태로 사용되고 있으므로 이를 기계적 방법에 의해 각각의 구성 플라스틱 성분으로 분리하기는 불가능하다. 이러한 이유로 인해 폐자동차를 구성하는 물질들의 효율적 재활용을 위해서는 재활용하기에 용이한 상태로 자동차를 디자인하여 제조하는 것이 필요하다고 할 수 있다. 이와 함께 폐자동차 재활용율을 향상시키는데 관한 규제를 만족시키기 위해서는 자동차 생산업체와 재황용 산업체의 통합적 협동체제가 요구된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권7호
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• pp.2833-2838
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• 2015

Background: Repeating a prior chemotherapy (rechallenge therapy) is an option for selected patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, but there is very little evidence in the literature for this approach. Thus, we reviewed our registry to evaluate prognostic factors and survival of patients who received irinotecan and oxaliplatin-based regimens as rechallenge third and fourth-line therapy. Materials and Methods: Patients who received irinotecan-based or oxaliplatin-base regimen as first-line had been rechallenged with third-line or fourth-line therapy. These patients were selected from the database of Turkish mCRC registry archives between October 2006 and June 2013 and evaluated retrospectively for factors effecting progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) by the Kaplan-Meire and Cox-regression methods. Results: Thirty-nine patients were enrolled. The median duration of follow-up was 36 months (14-68 months). Thirty-one patients (76%) died during follow-up. In terms of rechallenge treatments, 29 patients had received third-line and 10 patients had received fourth-line. Response rate (RR) was found to be 12.9%, with stable disease in 19 (48.7%) patients. The median PFS was 6 months (95%CI=4.64-7.35 months) and the median OS was 11 months (95%CI=8.31-13.68 months). The factors effecting survival (PFS and OS) were only being PFS after first-line chemotherapy ${\geq}12months$ (p=0.007, 95% CI=1.75-35.22 and p=0.004, 95%CI=1.44-7.11), both in univariate and multivariate analyses. Conclusions: This study indicates that rechallenge treatment could be a good option as a third or later line therapy in patients who had ${\geq}12months$ PFS onreceiving first line therapy.