Exogenous rhTRX reduces lipid accumulation under LPS-induced inflammation

Redox-regulating molecule, recombinant human thioredoxin (rhTRX) which shows anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated inflammation and regulate protein expression levels. LPS-induced reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) and NO production were inhibited by exogenous rhTRX. We identified up/downregulated intracellular proteins under the LPS-treated condition in exogenous rhTRX-treated A375 cells compared with non-LPS-treated cells via 2-DE proteomic analysis. Also, we quantitatively measured cytokines of in vivo mouse inflammation models using cytometry bead array. Exogenous rhTRX inhibited LPS-stimulated production of ROI and NO levels. TIP47 and ATP synthase may influence the inflammation-related lipid accumulation by affecting lipid metabolism. The modulation of skin redox environments during inflammation is most likely to prevent alterations in lipid metabolism through upregulation of TIP47 and ATP synthase and downregulation of inflammatory cytokines. Our results demonstrate that exogenous rhTRX has anti-inflammatory properties and intracellular regulatory activity in vivo and in vitro. Monitoring of LPS-stimulated pro-inflammatory conditions treated with rhTRX in A375 cells could be useful for diagnosis and follow-up of inflammation reduction related with candidate proteins. These results have a therapeutic role in skin inflammation therapy.

Analysis of Anastomotic Leakage after an Anterior Resection for Rectal Cancer

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to identify risk factors associated with anastomotic leakage (AL) after an anterior resection (high anterior resection+low anterior resection) for rectal cancer. METHODS: Between January 1998 and December 2007, 356 patients underwent an anterior resection for rectal cancer. Early anastomotic leakage (EAL) was defined as leakage identified during hospitalization. Late anastomotic leakage (LAL) was defined as leakage identified in outpatients. RESULTS: AL (EAL+LAL) occurred in 30 patients (8.4%, mean time: 15.4 days). Among of them, EAL occurred in 20 patients (5.6%, mean time: 5.1 days), and LAL occurred in 10 patients (2.8%, mean time: 36.0 days). In the univariate analysis, the size of the tumor, the tumor level from the anal verge, and the level of anastomosis were significantly associated with AL. In EAL, the size of the tumor, the tumor level from the anal verge, the level of anastomosis, the operation type, and the value of serum albumin on day 3 after the operation were risk factors. In LAL, the tumor level from the anal verge and the level of anastomosis were risk factors. In the multivariate analysis, tumor size >7 cm (AL: P<0.001, EAL: P<0.001) and tumor level from the anal verge < or =8 cm (AL: P=0.014, EAL: P=0.001) were independent risk factors. CONCLUSION: AL and EAL after an anterior resection for rectal cancer were related to the size of the tumor and the level of the tumor from the anal verge.

Effect of weight gain during the pregnancy on success of vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC) / 대한주산의학회잡지

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between weight gain and the success of VBAC by using body mass index (BMI). To examine the relationship between weight gain and the success of VBAC by using body mass index (BMI). METHODS: The study compared clinical features taken from 112 patients who tried VBAC at our institute from January 2001 through December 2006. There were divided into two GROUPS: 92 patients for the success (82.1%) and 20 patients for the failure group (17.9%). Excluding 36 patients with no BMI data, we constructed Receive-operating characteristics (ROC) curve to make the optimum BMI value for the prediction of success of VBAC. Based on the BMI 26 or more, two groups of patient were surveyed the interrelation between weight gain and success of VBAC. RESULTS: Between success and failure group, the weight gain during pregnancy showed significant differences which are 11.2+/-4 kg of the success group and 13.2+/-5 kg of the other one (p<0.05) A survey on the availability of the BMI date to estimate success of VBAC, the criteria with the standard BMI 26 is not statistically valuable (p=0.837). By comparing normal weight and overweight based on BMI 26, some factors showed statistically significant discrepancies: number of prenatal visit, maternal weight gain, maternal weight at the time of delivery, use of oxytocin and birth weight. CONCLUSION: BMI value of 26 has limitations in using as an estimate criteria on success of VBAC. Patients, however, who had relatively small scale of weight gain, showed significant clinical factors to increased success rate of VBAC.

Familial Hearing Loss Associated with mtDNA A1555G Mutation in Korea: 1 Pedigree / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Familial aminoglycoside-induced deafness has been described in a number of Chinese and Japanese pedigrees. Recently, the familial aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity is proved to be associated with a mutation in mitochondrial (mt) 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene at nucleotide position 1555 in some families. In this study, we analyzed mt 12S rRNA gene to find out this particular mutation in Korean pedigrees who had a family history of hearing loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Peripherial blood was obtained from 91 individuals of 30 families, and total genomic DNA (gDNA) was extracted. A fragment of DNA including a part of mt 12S rRNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were analyzed by restriction digestion with Bsm A1 and DNA sequencing. RESULTS: We found one family of mtDNA A1555G. Six family members had mutant genotype and three of them showed severe sensorineural hearing loss or deafness. The mutation was homoplasmic in all affected family members, and the genotype revealed maternal transmission. CONCLUSION: We found the first case of familial hearing loss genetically proved to be associated with the mt 12S rRNA gene mutation, in Korea. Because it is possible that an individual with this mutation shows a progressive sensorineural hearing loss, a screening of mtDNA A1555G mutation for the familial members who have a maternal inheritant hearing loss might be necessary.