Comparison of inflammatory microRNA expression in healthy and periodontitis tissues

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short RNA molecules that negatively regulate gene expression primarily by degrading target mRNA or inhibit the translation of protein product. Recently, many reports have shown the altered miRNA expression in various diseases. However, there are no reports on miRNA expression related to periodontitis. Thus, this study aimed to compare the miRNAs differentially expressed in healthy and chronic periodontitis tissues and to determine the miRNAs closely associated with chronic periodontitis. To find out the miRNAs differentially induced in healthy and chronic periodontitis tissues, miRNA microarray was carried out and the expression of miRNAs was confirmed by real-time PCR. According to miRNA microarray analyses, six miRNA genes, let-7a, let-7c, miR-130a, miR301a, miR-520d, and miR-548a, were up-regulated more than 8 fold compared to the healthy gingiva. The expression of twenty-two miRNAs was increased more than 4 fold. Among these miRNAs, eight miRNAs which are known to be closely related to inflammation were selected. Six of these miRNA genes, miR-181b, miR-19b, miR-23a, miR-30a, miR-let7a, and miR-301a, were amplified successfully and increased much more in periodontitis gingivae than in healthy ones. In summary, this study indicate that six miRNAs up-regulated in periodontitis gingiva may play a key role in chronic periodontitis.

Cobalt chloride stimulates phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt signaling through the epidermal growth factor receptor in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Tumor cells are often found under hypoxic conditions due to the rapid outgrowth of their vascular supply, and, in order to survive hypoxia, these cells induce numerous signaling factors. Akt is an important kinase in cell survival, and its activity is regulated by the upstream phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). In this study, we examined Akt activation and RTKs/PI3K/Akt signaling using the hypoxia-mimetic cobalt chloride in oral squamous carcinoma cells. Cobalt chloride increases Akt phosphorylation in both a dose- and time-dependent manner. Blocking the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway using LY294002 abolished Akt activation in response to cobalt chloride, suggesting that Akt phosphorylation by cobalt chloride is dependent on PI3K. In addition, activation of the PI3K/Akt path way seems to rely on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), since the inhibition of EGFR attenuated cobalt chloride-induced Akt activation. The results in this study also demonstrate that cobalt chloride increases EGFR protein levels and induces oral squamous cell carcinoma cells to enter S phase.

A Case of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada(VKH)Syndrome Combined with Choroidal Detachment in Diatetic Nephropathy Patient

VKH syndrome is a symptom complex having prodromal systemic manifestations, bilateral uveites and exudative retinal detachment. It has not been known clearly whether it is relelated to DM or not. We experienced a 43-year old man complaining of acutely decreased visual acuity in both eyes with bilateral choroidal detachment. He has been diabetic for 5 years in uncontrolled state. He was diagnosed to have VKH syndrome and was treated with local steroid injection with visual improvement. So we present this case with review of literatures.

A Molecular Epidemiological Study on a Cluster of Legionella Pneumonia Occurred in a Tertiary-Care Hospital / 감염

BACKGROUND: Because of the ubiquity of Legionella species in aquatic environments, molecular epidemiological analysis of Legionella isolates is important in investigation for source of infection and subsequent control of nosocomial legionellosis. In association with an unusual cluster of nosocomial pneumonia with Legionella in a tertiary-care hospital, we performed an environmental surveillance with molecular epidemiological study of Legionella isolates. METHODS: We randomly collected 20 samples of environmental and portable water from the hospital where three cases of Legionella pneumonia occurred consecutively during the period of 5 months. We detected Legionella from the samples by using both culture and polymerase chain reaction(PCR), and analyzed Legionella isolates from patients and environmental samples together with 12 reference strains by ribotyping using HpaI and EcoRI. RESULTS: Legionella was isolated from 3 out of 20(15%) samples by culture, and detected in 9 of 20(45%) by PCR. Ribotyping analysis showed that 2 patients' and 2 environmental isolates from a faucet of the patient's room and an air handling unit shared the same pattern which was also identical to that of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 6, a reference strain. CONCLUSION: The study showed that the hospital environments were contaminated with at least 2 Legionella species including L. pneumophila serogroup 6, and indicated that an unusual cluster of Legionella pneumonia occurred in the hospital was possibly linked to the contamination of a faucet with L. pneumophila serogroup 6.

Analysis of Surgical Results of Pituitary Adenomas

From June, 1989 to December, 1993, 162 patients were diagnosed as a pituitary adenoma and treated by a surgical procedure. These patients were analyzed in terms of preoperative and postoperative hormonal level, grade, stage, size and treatment modalities. The results were as follows:1) The ratio of male versus female was 1:2.1. Female was predominant in twenties and thirties and male in forties. 2) The incidence of prolactinoma was 37.6% and non-functioning adenoma 37.1%, acromegaly 16.0%, Cushing's disease 5.6%. Marked female preponderence was noticed in prolactinoma and Cushing's disease. 3) The incidence of microadenoma in Cushing's disease was higher than the other tumor types. 4) The remission rate of prolactinoma was 54.1% and acromegaly 69.2%, Cushing's disease 66.7% and it was not correlated with tumor type. 5) Preoperative hormonal level was not correlated with grade, stage and size. 6) In prolactinoma, the remission rate was correlated with grade, stage, preoperative prolactin level, but not with size. 7) In acromegaly, the remission rate was correlated with grade, stage, but not with size and preoperative growth hormone level. 8) In Cushing's disease, the remission rate was not correlated with grade, stage, size and preoperative ACTH level. 9) The residual mass was noticed in 44.5% of patients and correlated with grade, stage and size. 10) The treatment modalities were surgery, surgery/bromocriptine, surgery/radiation therapy(including gamma knife surgery), surgery/bromocriptine/radiation therapy. Although surgery had the best treatment result, it had the lower preoperative hormonal level than the other treatment cases.

Stereotactic Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for the Treatment of Angiographically Occult Vascular Malformations(AOVMs)

In recent years, an increasing number of patient with AOVMs have been recognized using MRI. When an AOVM is located in a region associated with an unacceptable surgical risk, stereotactic radiosurgery offers an alternative treatment. We treated 21 patients with AOVM using gamma knife radiosurgery from June, 1990 to December, 1993 at Asan Medical Center. The indications for radiosurgery were as follows:1) Patients who had episodes of hemorrhage from a lesion that had the characteristic images of AOVM in MRI. 2) Patients who had seizures and the focus of these seizures corresponded to the lesions. 3) Patients were excluded if the lesions were located superficially or were accessible to microsurgery. Nine patients presented with hemorrhages and twelve with seizures. The marginal dose was ranged from 10 to 25 Gy at or above the 50% isodose line. Of eight patients followed 12 months or less after radiosurgery, two patients had improved neurologic deficits and one had decreased the seizure frequency with mediciation. Among seven patients followed 12-24 months, MRI showed a reduction of the lesion in one patient and no change in five patients. One patient had perifocal edema. In two patients with seizures, one patient was seizure free without medication and one patient was controlled with medication. In six patients between 24 and 44 months, two patients had smaller lesions and three patients had perifocal edema. Among four patients who had seizures, one patient was seizure free without medication and three had decreased the seizure frequency with medication. Postoperative complications developed two patients, but one patient showed improvement of neurologic deficits after a short period of steroid medication. Stereotactic radiosurgery offers a treatment to a selective patients with intracranial AOVMs.

Estudo multiprofissional de crianças matriculadas em "classe especial" / Multiprofessional study of children enrolled in \"especial class\"

Com o objetivo de se estabelecerem diagnósticos médico, psicológico e fonoaudiológico, estudaram-se 10 crianças (5m, 5f), cuja faixa etária se situava entre 7 anos e 5 meses e 11 anos e 9 meses, as quais compunham uma "classe especial" da rede estadual de ensino. Foram submetidas a anamneses médica e psicológica, a exame físico completo, a testes de Snellen para acuidade visual, de Matrizes Progressivas de Raven, ao teste gestáltico visomotor de Bender, de Escala de Indicadores Emocionais de Koppitz, avaliaçöes do sistema motor oral, das funçöes de respiraçäo, sopro, mastigaçäo, sucçäo e deglutiçäo e daquelas que säo básicas para a aquisiçäo de linguagem, e a exame de audiometria tonal limiar. Identificaram-se como fatores relacionados à Deficiência Mental (DM): idade materna superior a 35 anos à época da gestaçäo, em quatro dos seis casos; alta frequência de hipertensäo, alcoolismo, câncer e retardamento mental na mäe e em outros familiares...

Cytogenetic analysis of meningiomas

Cytogenetic analysis of 4 cases of meningiomas from 3 male and 1 female patients is reported. One of male patients suffered from neurofibromatosis type 2. Histologically, the meningiomas were meningotheliomatous (1), transitional (2), and psammomatous (1). Chromosomal abnormalities were found in all cases with a karyotype 45,XY,-22, 45,XY,-16, 45,XX,-2, and 45,XY,t (15p;22q), respectively. Monosomy of chromosome 22 was detected only in the patient with neurofibromatosis type 2. These cytogenetic analysis demonstrates that variable clonal karyotype aberrations exist in meningiomas.

Experimental study on quantitative analysis of fatty liver by computed tomography in rabbit

For the study of correlation of CT number and fatty content of the liver, total 35 rabbits were used. Therabbits were divided into one control and three experimental groups according to the amount of carbonetetra choloride, administered 1ml, 2ml and 3ml per kg lf body weight respectively. The carbone tetrachloride wasadministered via intragastric route. CT was performed 72 hours following administration of carbone tetrachloride,and immediately prior to CT scan each rabbit was anesthetized by means of IM injection of ketamine and IV injection of succinylcholine to stop motion and respiration. CT numbers were measured and histological study forthe deposition of fat in the liver tissue was done. Also biochemical analysis of lipid in the blood and in theextraction of liver tissue was performed. Comparison of CT number with biochemical and histological data was done.The results were as follows: 1. In each experimental group, the degree of accumulation of fat in the liver was proportional to the amount of carbone tetrachloride. 2. Degree of decreaseing CT number was correlated with theincrease in the accumlation of fat in the liver. 3. In the control and experimental (1,2,3) groups, when theamount of carbone tetrachloride increased, the amount of total lipid, cholesterol and triglyceride on biochemical analysis of the liver increased. Also increase in the amount of plasma lipids on biochemical analysis and a greatdegree of increase in accumulation of fat in the liver on histological examination were see. But no changes in theamounts of phospholipid and protein on biochemical analysis of the liver were noticed. 4. Increase in the amountof total lipid could make a change in the CT number of the liver remakably(r=−0.63). As the amount of cholesteroland triglyceride increased, the CT number of the liver decreased (r=−0.61 and r=−0.76 respectively). But there wasno significant correlation between the amount of protein and phospholipid and the degree of decrease in CT number.5. Mean values of CT number in normal, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3 and grade 4 according to the degree ofhistological changes were 67.46±2.24, 58.53±3.06, 49.43±6.91, 39.49±9.69, 20.62±8.04 respectively. Thereduction of CT number was correlated with the accumulation of fat on histological examination.