Effects of Extremely Low Frequency Elecromagnetic Fields on Thyroid Carcinogenesis Induced by N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine and Sulfadimethoxine

PURPOSE: Long-term exposure to extremely low-frequency (60 Hz) electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) raises the questions of the induction of biological effects including tumorigenesis. One mechanism through which ELF-MFS could influence neoplastic development is the imbalance of cellular proliferation and cell apoptosis. The present study investigated the effect of ELF-EMF on chemically-induced thyroid carcinogenesis in a rat. METHODS: We examined cellular proliferation index measured by anti-Ki-67 antigen, apoptosis, apoptosis related proteins such as caspase 3 and p53, and cell cycle-related proteins (cyclin D1 and p21(WAF1/Cip1)). Forty Male F344 rats received a subcutaneous N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine (DHPN, 2,800 mg/kg) injection, and 1 week later were allowed free access to drinking water containing sulfadimethoxine (0.1%) for 12 weeks. Twenty rats were exposed by ELF-EMF. During the carcinogenesis, sequential histological changes from hyperplasia, adenoma, and ultimately to overt carcinomas were noted. RESULTS: The exposure group of ELF-EMF, significantly increases the number size of carcinomas. Also, the proliferative and apoptotic indices were significantly increased in the ELF-EMF exposure group than in the control group. The caspase 3 protein expression did not show any significant changes between ELF-EMF group and control group. The p53 protein was not detected in both ELF-EMF exposure and control group. Among the cell cycle related proteins, cyclin D1, not p21(WAF1/Cip1), was significantly increased in adenomas and carcinomas in ELF-EMF exposure group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Exposure of ELF-EMF effects on chemically-induced rat thyroid carcinogenesis as results of altered increase of cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and cyclin D1 expression.

Expression of Caspase 3, Survivin, and p53 Protein in Urethane Induced Mouse Lung Carcinogenesis / 결핵및호흡기질환

PURPOSE: An imbalance of cell proliferation and cell apoptosis is an important mechanism in carcinogenesis. Capase 3, survivin and p53 have been identified as important members of the apoptotic related proteins. This study evaluated the proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA), apoptosis, apoptotic related protein such as capase 3, survivin and p53 using urethane-induced mouse lung carcinogenesis, which provides reproducible steps from hyperplasia to adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Urethane was administered to the ICR mice through an intra-peritoneal injection, The mice were sacrificed at 5, 15, and 25 weeks after urethane intervention. The sequential morphological changes and immunohistochemical expression of PCNA, apoptosis, capase 3, survivin, and p53 were examined during mouse lung carcinogenesis. RESULTS: During carcinogenesis, the sequential histological changes were observed from hyperplasia of type II pneumocytes, to anadenoma, and ultimately to an overt adenocarcinoma. The PCNA Labeling index (LI) was 9.6% in hyperplasia, 23.2% in adenoma, and 55.7% in adenocarcinoma, respectively. The apoptotic LI was 0.24% in hyperplasia, 1.25% in adenoma, and 5.27% in adenocarcinoma. A good correlation was observed between the PCNA LI and apoptotic LI. The expression of caspase 3 was remarkable- i.e., 46.7% in adenocarcinoma, in contrast to 15% in hyperplasia and 16% in adenoma. Survivin was detected weakly in the alveolar hyperplasia and showed an increasing expressional pattern in adenoma and adenocarcinoma. p53 expression was detected only in the adenocarcinoma lesions with an expression rate of 13.3%. The level of caspase 3 expression correlated with the increase in the apoptotic index. The positive expression of caspase 3 was associated with an increased apoptotic index. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the PCNA LI and apoptotic LI might be useful markers for evaluating the risk of a malignant transformation. In addition, caspase, survivin and p53 might play a role in the early and late steges of urethane-induced mouse lung carcinogenesis.

The enhancement of endotoxin-induced nitric oxide production by elevation of glucose concentration in macrophage

The production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are known to be modulated by a variety of factors. Recent study showed that endotoxin-induced NO synthesis and iNOS expression were greatly enhanced by elevation of extracellular glucose concentration in murine macrophages. Although this was suggested to be due to the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) via sorbitol pathway, there was lack of evidence for this speculation. This study was performed to delineate the underlying intracellular mechanisms of glucose-enhancing effect on endotoxin-induced NO production in Raw264.7 macrophages. The levels of NO release induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) significantly increased by the treatment of glucose in a concentration dependent manner and also, this effect was observed in LPS-preprimed cells. Concurrent incubation of cells with PKC inhibitors, H-7 or chelerythrine, and LPS resulted in the diminution of NO production regardless of glucose conc entration but this was not in the case of LPS-prepriming, that is, chelerythrine showed a minimal effect on the glucose- enhancing effect PMA, a PKC activator, did not show any significant effect on glucose-associated NO production. Modulation of sorbitol pathway with zopolrestat, an aldose reductase inhibitor, did not affect LPS-induced NO production and iNOS expression under high glucose condition. And also, sodium pyruvate, which is expected to normalize cytosolic NADH/NAD+ ratio, did not show any significant effect at concentrations of up to 10 mM. Glucosamine marginally increased the endotoxin-induced nitrite release in both control and high glucose treated group 6-diazo-5-oxonorleucine (L-DON) and azaserine, glutamine: fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT) inhibitors, significantly diminished the augmentation effect of high glucose on endotoxin-induced NO production. On the other hand, negative modulation of GFAT inhibitors was not reversed by the treatment of glucosamine , suggesting the minimal involvement, if any, of glucosamine pathway in glucose-enhancing effect. In summary, these results strongly suggest that the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway and the activation of PKC via sorbitol pathway do not contribute to the augmenting effect of high glucose on endotoxin induced NO production in macrophage-like Raw264.7 cells.

Cardioprotective effects of low dose bacterial lipopolysaccharide may not be directly associated with prostacyclin production

Sublethal dose of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) would induce protection against cardiac ischemic/ reperfusion (I/R) injury. This study examines the following areas: 1) the temporal induction of the cardioprotection produced by LPS; and 2) the relations between a degree of protection and the myocardial prostacyclin (PGI2) production. Rats were administered LPS (2 mg/kg, i.v.), and hearts were removed 1, 4, 8, 14, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h later. Using Langendorff apparatus, haemodynamic differences during 25 min of global ischemia/30 min reperfusion were investigated. The concentration of PGI2 in aliquots of the coronary effluent was determined by radioimmunoassay as its stable hydrolysis product 6-keto-PGF1alpha and lactate dehydrogenase release were measured as an indicative of cellular injury. LPS-induced cardiac protection against I/R injury appeared 4 h after LPS treatment and remained until 96 h after treatment. PGI2 release increased 2-3 fold at the beginning of reperfusion compared to basal level except in hearts treated with LPS for 48 and 72 h. In hearts removed 48 and 72 h after LPS treatment, basal PGI2 Was increased. To determine the enzymatic step in relation to LPS-induced basal PGI2 production, we examined prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS) protein expression, a rate limiting enzyme of prostaglandin production, by using Western blot analysis. LPS increased PGHS protein expression in hearts at 24, 48, 72, 96 h after LPS treatment. Induction of PGHS expression appeared in both isotypes of PGHS, a constitutive PGHS-1 and an inducible PGHS-2. To identify the correlationship between PGI2 production and the cardioprotective effect against I/R injury, indomethacin was administered in vivo or in vitro. Indomethacin did not inhibit LPS-induced cardioprotection, which was not affected by the duration of LPS treatment. Taken together, our results suggest that PGI2 might not be the major endogenous mediator of LPS-induced cardioprotection.

Tolerance of Patients and postoperative Results: Strabismus Surgery under Topical Anesthesia

The results of corrective surgery in strabismus patients are not always predictable. To lower the chance of reoperation, intraoperative or postoperative adjustment is performed. The authors performed intraoperative adjustment surgery in 24 patients with topical Anesthesia with 0.5% tetracaine. We evaluated the severity of pain and the strabismus angel postoperatively. Follow-up showed success rate of 95.8% immediately after surgery. 79.2% on 6 weeks after surgery and 70.8% after 1 year. Among 24 patients, 17 patients felt no pain and 7 patients had on slight pain on muscle traction. The above results suggest that we can not prevent long-term recurrence after adjustment operation using topical anesthetics, this method causes no intolerable pain and making this a useful treatment for strabismus angle.

A Case of Exophthalmos due to Traumatic Orbital Encephalocele

Exophthalmos after trauma may develop because of retrobulbar hemorrhage, carotid cavernous fistula and orbital roof fracture. The orbital roof is composed of two layers of strong bone that makes it the strongest among the orbital walls and reports of its case are hardly found. However, rarely strong impact such as in automobile accidents causes these fractures and exophthalmos may develop due to herniation of brain tissue through a traumatic defect in the roof of the orbit. The authors experienced gradually increasing exophthalmos in a 33-year old man who had developed a subdural hematoma, orbital roof fracture and anterior temporal skull fracture due to an automobile accident. We report a case of orbital roof fracture in which herniation of brain was shown in orbital computed tomography and exophthalmos disappeared after dural suture.