Introduction of Community-Based Preconception Care for Men and Women of Childbearing Age in Seoul

Community-based preconception care for men and women of childbearing age has been introduced in Seoul. The program aims to focus on problem areas such as low birth rate, fertility issues potentially due to late marriages, preterm or premature births, and low-birthweight in newborn babies. The district administration officials of Seoul, as well as, academics from the Korean Society of Maternal and Child Health, developed a protocol by using a questionnaire and laboratory test for screening risk factors in pregnancy. The protocol was tested on a trial basis in four local districts in Seoul from July 2017 to 2018, extended to 12 local districts in 2019, and all 25 districts in Seoul in 2020. The protocol includes AntiMullerian Hormone tests to assess women’s ovarian reserve and male health checkups that include semen analysis and physical examinations of genitalia. These tests are conducted for early detection and treatment of infertility, especially in cases of late marriages. In order to prevent women being abandoned during pregnancy (leading them to single-parenting), the protocol also emphasizes building a gender-sen sitive environment by encouraging more male participation. A monitoring group comprised of Seoul city district officials and academics from the Korean Society of Maternal and Child Health, regularly visited the local districts to observe improvements and keep the program officials up to date. In addition, the group also conducted a mobile phone survey for feedback on the program. The interest and support of the resi dents in Seoul city, and positive results and development in pregnancy care and childbirth, are needed to stabilize and extend this protocol.

Primary peritoneal serous papillary carcinoma presenting as a large mesenteric mass mistaken for ovarian cancer: a case of primary peritoneal carcinoma

Peritoneal origin serous papillary carcinoma is an uncommon primary malignancy occurring in the abdominal or pelvic peritoneum lining. It is characterized by peritoneal carcinomatosis with massive ascites, uninvolved or minimally involved ovary, and is histologically indistinguishable from ovarian serous tumors. Better recognition of this phenomenon in recent years has contributed to an increasing diagnostic frequency. We describe a rare case of peritoneal origin serous papillary carcinoma with unusual clinical presentations involving a solitary primary tumor originating from the peritoneal lining of the sigmoid colonal mesentery, without pelvic lymph node involvement or distant metastasis. Because of the location and morphological similarity, it was misdiagnosed as an ovarian malignancy. We aim to assist in the diagnosis of this disease with the following case report, thereby improving the management of patients with this condition.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Violapyrones B and C from a Marine-derived Streptomyces sp

Recently, we reported violapyrones B, C, H and I, unusual 3, 4, 6-trisubstituted alpha-pyrone derivatives, from the culture broth of the marine Streptomyces sp. 112CH148. In previous studies, violapyrones have been shown to have antibacterial and antitumor activities. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of violapyrones has not been reported yet. As part of our ongoing study for the discovery of bioactive metabolites from marine microorganisms, we found that violapyrones also have anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, we investigated the effect of violapyrones on LPS-induced inflammatory responses in vitro. Violapyrones B and C did not affect the viability of RAW 264.7 cells at concentrations up to 25 microM. However, violapyrones B and C inhibited the production of NO compared to the LPS-induced control. In addition, violapyrones B and C down-regulated the expression of iNOS protein in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the anti-inflammatory activity of violapyrones B and C.

Periodontopathogen LPSs Regulate MicroRNA Expression in Human Gingival Epithelial Cells

Periodontitis results from the activation of host immune and inflammatory defense responses to subgingival plaque bacteria, most of which are gram-negative rods with lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) in their cell walls. LPSs have been known to induce proinflammatory responses and recently it was reported also that they induce the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) in host cells. In our current study therefore, we aimed to examine and compare the miRNA expression patterns induced by the LPSs of major periodontopathogens in the human gingival epithelial cell line, Ca9-22. The cells were treated with 1 microg/ml of E. coli (Ec) LPS or 5 microg/ml of an LPS preparations from four periodontopathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Prevotella intermedia (Pi), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) for 24 h. After small RNA extraction from the treated cells, miRNA microarray analysis was carried out and characteristic expression profiles were observed. Fn LPS most actively induced miRNAs related to inflammation, followed by Aa LPS, Pi LPS, and Ec LPS. In contrast, Pg LPS only weakly activated miRNAs related to inflammation. Among the miRNAs induced by each LPS, miR-875-3p, miR-449b, and miR-520d-3p were found to be commonly up-regulated by all five LPS preparations, although at different levels. When we further compared the miRNA expression patterns induced by each LPS, Ec LPS and Pi LPS were the most similar although Fn LPS and Aa LPS also induced a similar miRNA expression pattern. In contrast, the miRNA profile induced by Pg LPS was quite distinctive compared with the other bacteria. In conclusion, miR-875-3p, miR-449b, and miR-520d-3p miRNAs are potential targets for the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal inflammation induced by subgingival plaque biofilms. Furthermore, the observations in our current study provide new insights into the inflammatory miRNA response to periodontitis.

Correlation between Histopathologic Grade, Stage, and Degree of EGFR Expression in Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder

This study was performed to estimate the correlation between the histopathological grade and the clinical stage, which are known as important prognostic factors, and EGFR expression status in 57 cases of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. There was a significant correlation between the histopathological grade and clinical stage of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder and between expression grades of EGFR and histopathological grades, or clinical stages of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Therefore, the presence of a high intensity of EGFR staining in the transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder was associated with poor differentiation and invasion. On the basis of the above results, it was suggested that the degree of EGFR expression is one of the objective and reliable prognostic factors in transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

"Chordoid" Meningioma with Systemic Manifestations of Castleman Syndrome: A case report

Chordoid meningioma is a recently established meningeal tumor and is characterized by a chordoma like histologic appearance, peritumoral lymphoplasma cell infiltrates causing systemic manifestations similar to Castleman syndrome and having a good prognosis. We experienced a case of chordoid meningioma in a 25 year-old woman. The patient preoperatively manifested iron-resistant hypochromic microcytic anemia, polyclonal gammopathy with beta-gamma bridging and detected a huge mass in the right temporo-parietal convexity of the brain. Microscopically, the mass was composed of nests and cords of cuboid, partly vacuolated cells in a mucoid matrix, simulating chordoma. The tumor was surrounded by masses of lymphoplasma cells around vessels, many of the plasma cells contained Russell bodies. Ultrastructural findings showed intranuclear cytoplasmic invaginations, microvilli protruding from cytoplasmic surfaces and well formed desmosomes. Some portions of tumor cell surface were covered by stretches of basal lamina.

Recurred Angiomyofibroblastoma of the Vulva: Report of a case

Angiomyofibroblastoma is a rare, benign mesenchymal tumor of the vulva. Since it was described in 1992 by Fletcher, 15 cases have been reported in literature. We recently experienced a recurred angiomyofibroblastoma of the vulva. A 45-year-old woman was presented initially in 1991 with a mass of labium major and local excision of tumor mass had been performed. A histologic diagnosis was made of angiomyxoma, but this diagnosis was revised to angiomyofibroblastoma by the authors. The recurred mass was well circumscribed, measuring 2.5x1.6x1.5cm in dimensions. Microscopically the tumor was characterized by high cellularity, numerous blood vessels(which lack prominent hyalinization), and plump stromal cells. Immunohistochemically, the stromal cells were reactive for vimentin and desmin, but not alpha-smooth muscle actin, or S-100 protein. We thought that this case was a recurred angiomyofibrblastoma of the vulva due to incomplete surgical excision.