Persicaria senticosa Ameliorates Imiquimod-induced Psoriasis-like Skin Lesions in Mice via Suppression of IL-6/STAT3 Expression and Proliferation of Keratinocytes

Psoriasis is one of the most common inflammatory skin disorders, with a global prevalence of 2% – 3%. It is an autoimmune skin disorder characterized by excessive generation of plaques on the skin with typical long-lasting red, itchy, and scaly lesions. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the anti-psoriatic effect of the methanolic extract of Persicaria senticosa (PS), a bioactive edible plant extract used in traditional medicine, using a mouse model of imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis. The daily topical application of IMQ could induce human psoriasis-like lesion. The extract ameliorated IMQ-induced psoriasis. Furthermore, hematoxylin and eosin staining and the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores indicated that topical application of PS led to an improvement in erythema, scaling, and thickness scores of the mouse dorsal skin and a considerable decrease in the epidermal thickness of the ear and dorsal skin in the IMQ-induced psoriatic mouse model. We also studied the effect of PS on the proliferation of keratinocytes using HaCaT cells. The extract inhibited cell proliferation and IL-6 and pSTAT3 expression induced by M5 cocktail (comprising interleukin [IL]-1α, IL-17A, IL-22, oncostatin M, and tumor necrosis factor-α) in HaCaT cells. Thus, PS might serve as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of psoriasis.

Breast diseases during pregnancy and lactation

Breast is a typical female sexual physiologic organ that is influenced by steroid hormone from menarche until menopause. Therefore various diseases can be developed by continuous action of estrogen and progesterone. Breast diseases are mainly categorized as benign and malignant. It is very important to distinguish the malignancy from breast diseases. However, it is very difficult to diagnose malignancy in pregnant and lactating women even though the same breast diseases took place. Therefore, we will review breast diseases such as breast carcinoma during pregnancy and lactation.

Role of Janus Kinase/Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription in the Pathogenesis of Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer

In the pathogenesis of pancreatitis, oxidative stress is involved in the activation of the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway and cytokine expression. High serum levels of cholecystokinin (CCK) have been reported in patients with acute pancreatitis, and treatment with cerulein, a CCK analogue, induces acute pancreatitis in a rodent model. Recent studies have shown that cerulein-activated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase elicits reactive oxygen species, which trigger the phosphorylation of the JAK1, STAT1, and STAT3 proteins and induce the production of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, and IL-6, in pancreatic acinar cells. The JAK/STAT pathway also stimulates cell proliferation and malignant transformation and inhibits apoptosis in the pancreas. This review discusses the possible role of the JAK/STAT pathway in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer in response to oxidative stress.

Clinical Analysis of Bell's Palsy in One University Hospital

BACKGROUND: Bell's palsy (BP) is the most frequent disease of the seventh cranial nerve, and has a relatively good prognosis. However, the precise etiology of the disorder has not been well understood. During the last decade, many researchers have focused on the conditions that are associated with BP, including diabetes, hypertension, and viral infection. We therefore analyzed that the etiology and clinical course of acute BP in patients in one university hospital. METHODS: The study comprised 241 BP patients who were examined over a 60-month period. Their clinical history was taken, and neurologic examinations, laboratory tests, electrophysiologic studies, and brain imaging was performed. The clinical severity of the facial palsy was assessed using the House-Brackman (HB) facial nerve grading scale. Patients were followed up once a week during the first month, and for up to 2 months. RESULTS: Of the 241 patients, 103 (43.5%) were men and 138 (56.5%) were women, whose ages were 46.4+/-16.6 and 48.4+/-17.6 years, respectively (mean+/-SD). The initial examination revealed that 36.7% of the cohort had an HB grade below 4, while in 63.3% the HB grade was above 3. Combined symptoms were as follows: postauricular pain (77.5%), increased tear flow (23.4%), taste change (15.6%), and hyperacusis (15.1%). The initial facial nerve conduction study performed within 1 week of presentation revealed a low compound muscle action potential amplitude in 140 (57.8%) and an absent blink reflex in 225 (93%). On follow-up examination, 134 (59%) of the patients exhibited a partial improvement by 4 weeks, and 166 (79.8%) had recovered completely within 2 months. CONCLUSIONS: We describe the epidemiologic, clinical, electrophysiologic, and radiologic characteristics of BP patients at one university hospital.

Altered Gene Expression in Cerulein-Stimulated Pancreatic Acinar Cells: Pathologic Mechanism of Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is a multifactorial disease associated with the premature activation of digestive enzymes. The genes expressed in pancreatic acinar cells determine the severity of the disease. The present study determined the differentially expressed genes in pancreatic acinar cells treated with cerulein as an in vitro model of acute pancreatitis. Pancreatic acinar AR42J cells were stimulated with 10(-8) M cerulein for 4 h, and genes with altered expression were identified using a cDNA microarray for 4,000 rat genes and validated by real-time PCR. These genes showed a 2.5-fold or higher increase with cerulein: lithostatin, guanylate cyclase, myosin light chain kinase 2, cathepsin C, progestin-induced protein, and pancreatic trypsin 2. Stathin 1 and ribosomal protein S13 showed a 2.5-fold or higher decreases in expression. Real-time PCR analysis showed time-dependent alterations of these genes. Using commercially available antibodies specific for guanylate cyclase, myosin light chain kinase 2, and cathepsin C, a time-dependent increase in these proteins were observed by Western blotting. Thus, disturbances in proliferation, differentiation, cytoskeleton arrangement, enzyme activity, and secretion may be underlying mechanisms of acute pancreatitis.

A Case of Advanced Gastric Cancer in Third trimester / 대한산부인과학회지

Gastric cancer associated with pregnancy is extremely rare and the information on this particular subject is limited. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite are common during pregnancy but also can be the only symptoms in stomach cancer until the late stage. Clinicians' reluctance to pursue diagnostic studies appears to be a major contributing factor of delayed diagnosis and poor outcome. A 33-year-old-women at 30 weeks gestation with advanced gastric cancer died sixteen days after emergency cesarean delivery. We report this case to alert clinicians to this rare possibility.

A case of hypereosinophilic syndrome with eosinophilic pneumonia, and bronchitis / 천식및알레르기

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome is characterized by multiorgan involvement without any cause, and peripheral eosinophilia(1,500/microliter) for more than 6 months. Clinically, many organs can be involved, but the heart is the most commonly involved organ. Although lung involvement is usual(20-30%)1) in hypereosinophilic syndrome, there are few reports of eosinophilic pneumonia proven by biopsy confirmation in Korea. We experienced a case of hypereosinophilic syndrome with eosinophilic pneumonia and bronchitis confirmed by biopsy, and we report it here with a review of the literature.

The effect of 8 French catheter and chest tube on the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous pneumothorax have been managed with a variety of methods. The technique most frequently used is chest tube drainage. Small caliber catheters were first used in the management of pneumothorax complicating the percutaneous needle aspiration lung biopsy, and the try to treat spontaneous pneumothorax also has been reported. However, the value of small caliber catheters in spontaneous pneumothorax has not been fully evaluated. So, we tried to elucidate the efficacy of 8 French catheter in the management of spontaneous pneumothorax. METHOD: From January, 1990, to April, 1994, 44 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax treated at Chung-Ang university hospital were reviewed. The patients were sub-divide into 8 French catheter insertion group (n=21) and chest tube insertion group (n=23). We compared the presence of underlying lung disease, the extent of the collapse, the duration of indwelling catheter and complication between two groups. RESULTS: 1) The duration of indwelling showed no significant difference between 8 French catheter group and chest tube. But, complication after insertion as subcutaneous emphysema was developed in only chest tube group. (p<0.05) 2) In the primary spontaneous pneumothorax, all case of the pneumothorax of which size was less than 50% showed complete healing with 8 French catheter insertion. Whereas the success rate in patients with large pneumothorax (more than 50%) was tended to be dependent on the age. 3) In the patients with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax who were managed with 8 French catheter, the success rate was trended to be high if the underlying disease of pneumothorax was not COPD and if the patient was young. CONCLUSION: These results show that 8 French catheter insertion probably was effective in the pneumothorax less than 50%, the primary spontaneous pneumothorax, young age or secondary pneumothorax not associated with COPD.