Cdo Is Required for Efficient Motor Neuron Generation of Embryonic Stem Cells

Background and Objectives@#The directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into motor neurons is critical for the development of disease modelling and therapeutics to intervene degenerative motor neuron diseases. Cell surface receptor Cdo functions as a coreceptor for Sonic hedgehog (Shh) with Boc and Gas1 in the patterning of ventral spinal cord neurons including motor neurons. However, the discrete function of Cdo is not fully understood. @*Methods@#and Results: In this study, we examined the role of Cdo in motor neuron generation by utilizing in vitro differentiation of Cdo＋/＋ and Cdo−/− embryonic stem cells (ESCs). In response to Shh, Cdo−/− ESCs exhibited impaired expression of motor neuron specification markers while dorsal interneuron specification markers were significantly increased, compared to Cdo＋/＋ ESCs. Reactivation of Shh signalling pathway with Smoothened (Smo) agonist (SAG) restored motor neuron specification in Cdo−/− ESCs. In addition, electrophysiological analysis revealed the immature electrical features of Cdo−/− ESCs-derived neurons which was restored by SAG. @*Conclusions@#Taken together, these data suggest that Cdo as a Shh coreceptor is required for the induction of motor neuron generation by fully activating Shh signalling pathway and provide additional insights into the biology of motor neuron development.

High levels of carcinoembryonic antigen and smoking might be markers of colorectal adenoma in Korean males aged 40-49 years / 영남의대학술지

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of adenoma in males aged 40-49 years in Korea was higher than expected. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of colorectal adenoma in males aged 40-49 years. METHODS: Total 1,902 asymptomatic subjects with a mean age of 47.9±6.7 years, who underwent a screening colonoscopy in a health promotion center of Myongji Hospital from 2010 to 2013 were enrolled in this study. We conducted a case-control study to determine the risk factors for adenoma. The subjects were classified into two groups (adenoma vs. controls). To validate the diagnostic value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) for adenoma, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was calculated. RESULTS: At least one colorectal adenoma was identified in 385 subjects (20.2%). Among these 385 subjects, 372 subjects were found to have a non-advanced adenoma, 13 subjects had an invasive adenoma. One subject had cancer. Male sex, age, smoking, metabolic syndrome, and elevated CEA level were significantly associated with a colorectal adenoma in univariate analysis. However, metabolic syndrome was not significant in multivariate analysis. In the male group, the AUROC of CEA for colorectal adenoma was 0.600 (0.543 to 0.656) in non-smokers under 50 years of age, and 0.615 (0.540 to 0.690) in smokers under 50 years of age. CONCLUSION: Male sex, smoking, and high levels of CEA seem to be associated with colorectal adenoma. High levels of CEA and smoking may be diagnostic markers for any colorectal adenoma in Korean males aged 40-49 years.

Diagnostic Efficacy of Mental Nerve SEP(Somatosensory Evoked Potentials) for the Injured Inferior Alveolar Nerve

Sensory dysfunction following the injury of the inferior alveolar nerve requires objective examination to get a reproducible data and to provide necessary treatment. This study was designed to evaluate if the SEP(somatosensory evoked potentials) of the mental nerve can be used as an objective method for the diagnosis of nerve injury and sensory disturbances. The subjects were nineteen patients (37.4+/-11.3 years old) who had been suffered from sensory disturbance of the unilateral lower lip and mental region for over 6 months after the inferior alveolar nerve injuries confirmed by the microsurgical explorations. The clinical neurosensory tests as SLTD(static light touch discrimination), MDD(moving direction discrimination), 2PD(two point discrimination), PPN(pin prick nociception) and accompanied pain were preceded to electro-physiologic examinations as SEP. The score of sensory dysfunction (sum score of all sensory tests) ranged from 0 to 8 were compared to the latency differences of the mental nerve SEPs. The correlation between clinical sensory scores and SEPs were tested by Spearman nonparametric rank correlation analysis, the differences in SEP latency by Kruskal-Wallis test and the latency differences according to PPN and accompanied pain by Mann-Whitney U test. This study resulted that the difference of the latencies between normal side and affected side was 2.22+/-2.46 msec and correlated significantly with the neurosensory dysfunction scores (p=0.0001). Conclusively, the somatosensory evoked potentials of the mental nerve can be a useful diagnostic method to evaluate the inferior alveolar nerve injuries and the change of sensory dysfunction to be reproduced as an objective assessment.

Radiotherapy of Locally Recurrent Rectal Carcinoma / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: We reviewed the treatment results for the patients with locally recurrent rectal carcinoma. The object was to evaluate the treatment outcome and to identify the prognostic factors influencing the survival. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty-eight patients with locally recurrent rectal carcinoma treated principally with external-beam radiation therapy between 1982 to 1996 in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Paik and Hanyang Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Of these, 17 patients had initially abdominoperineal resection, 9 had low anterior resection, and 2 had local excision. No patients had received adjuvant radiation therapy for the primary disease. There were 14 men and 14 women whose ages ranged from 31 to 72 years (median age:54.5). Median time from initial surgery to the start of radiation therapy for local recurrence was 11 months (4~47 months). Radiation therapy was given with total doses ranging from 27 to 64.8 Gy (median=51.2 Gy). RESULTS: The median survival was 16.7 months. The 2-year and 5-year survival rates were 20.1%, 4.1% respectively. Upon multivariate analysis, overall survival was positively correlated with duration of intervals from initial surgery to local recurrence (P=0.039). Relief of pelvic symptoms was achieved in 17 of 28 patients (60.7%). Pain and bleeding responded in 40% and 100% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: Patients with locally recurrent rectal carcinoma treated with radiotherapy have benefited symptomatically, and might have increased survivals with a small chance of cure. But, patient were rarely cured (median survival:10 months, 5-year survival:less than 5%). Overall survival was positively correlated with long intervals from initial surgery to local recurrence. Future efforts should be directed to the use of effective therapy for patients with locally recurrent rectal carcinoma and adjuvant therapy for patients with rectal cancer to reduce the incidence of pelvic recurrence.

SURGICAL CORRECTION OF CLASS II OPENBITE WITH TMD ; Report of Cases

PURPOSE: This is to evaulate the efficacy of orthognathic surgical aids to imporve the painful TMJ in Class II open-bite deformites. CASES: Four patients who had been sufferred from temporo-mandibular disorders with open-bite retrognathic deformities underwent orthognathic surgeries. The presurgical orthodontic treatment and conservative management for temporomandibular disorders could not be continued due to progressive pain loading on TMJs and muscle tenderness. Bilateral ramus oseotomy with semirigid internal fixation were followed for 2 years by radiologic changes including MRI, bone scan, clinical examination of jaw opening. pain(VAS) and occlusal changes. RESULTS: Open-bite deformites with painful TMJ showed DJD findings without reduction of disc and hot spots on bone scans. The surgeries helped pain reduction to VAS 0.5 from 8.0 and improved jaw opening to 45 mm. Hot spots of TMJ were decreased or disappeared in one year. There were no signs or evidence of openbite-recurrence. CONCLUSION: In the standpoint of sequential management of TMD, the orthognathic surgery is a good option and modality to treat the class II openbite deformities with temporomandibular disorders with temporomandibular disorders which are not respond to conservative management during orthodontic treatment.

The Role of Radiotherapy for Carcinomas of the Gall Bladder and Extrahepatic Biliary Duct: Retrospective analysis / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: Carcinomas arising in the gall bladder (GB) or extrahepatic biliary ducts are uncommon and generally have a poor prognosis. The overall 5- year survival rates are less than 10%. Early experiences with the external radiation therapy demonstrated a good palliation with occasional long-term survival. The present report describes our experience over the past decade with irradiation of primary carcinomas of the gallbladder and extrahepatic biliary duct. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From Feb. 1984 to Nov. 1995, thirty-three patients with carcinoma of the GB and extrahepatic biliary duct were treated with external beam radiotherapy with curative intent at our institution. All patients were treated with 4-MV linear accelerator and radiation dose ranged from 31.44Gy to 54.87Gy (median 44.25Gy), and three patients received additional intraluminal brachytherapy (range, 25Gy to 30Gy). Twenty-seven patients received a postoperative radiation. Among 27 patients, Sixteen patients underwent radical operation with curative aim and the rest of the patients either had bypass surgery or biopsy alone. In seventeen patients, adjuvant chemotherapy was used and eleven patients were treated with 5-FU, mitomycin and leucovorin. RESULTS: Median follow up period was 8.5 months (range 2-97 months). The overall 2-year and 5-year survival rates in all patients were 29.9% and 13.3% respectively. In patients with GB and extrahepatic biliary duct carcinomas, the 2-year survival rates were 34.5% and 27.8% respectively. Patients who underwent radical operation showed better 2-year survival rates than those who underwent palliative operation (43.8% vs. 20.7%). albeit, statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The 2-year survival rates in Stage I and II were higher than in Stage III and IV with statistical significance (P0.05). CONCLUSION: The survival of patients with relatively lower stage and/or initial good performance was significantly superior to that of others. We found an statistically insignificant trend toward better survival in patients with radical operation and/or chemotherapy. More radical treatment strategies, such as total resection with intensive radiation and/or chemotherapy may offer a better chance for cure in selective patients with carcinoma of gall bladder and extrahepatic biliary ducts.

Combined Chemoradiotherapy vs Radiotherapy Alone for LocallyAdvanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck / 대한치료방사선과학회지

PURPOSE: The traditional approach with surgery and/or radiotherapy(RT) for advanced head and neck cancer provides anticipated cure rates of 10-65% depending on stages and sites. Recently, combined modality with chemotherapy have been extensively investigated in attempts to improve survival and local control. We retrospectively analysed our experience of 31 patients with advanced head and neck cancer METHODS AND MATERIALS: From November 1983 to October 1994, 31 patients with Stage II and IV squamous cell head and neck cancer were treated with RT. Sixteen patients were treated with RT alone. and 15 patients were treated with combined RT plus chemotherapy. All patients were treated with 4-MV LINAC and radiation dose ranged from 5000 cGy to 7760 cGy(median 7010 cGy). In combined group. 7 patients were treated with cis-platin plus 5-FU, 2 patients were treated with methotrexate plus leucovorin plus 5-FU plus cisplatin or carboplatin, and 6 patients were treated with cisplatin as a radiosensitizer. RESULTS: Median follow up period was 16 months (range 4-134 months). The major responses (CR+PR) were noted in 10 patient (66.6%) of the RT alone group and 14 patient (93.3%) of the chemoradiation group. There was no statistical difference in CR rate between the two groups. The overall survival rates at 5 years were 23.4% in the radiation alone group. 23.5% in the chemoradiation group. Disease-free survival rates at 3 year were 44.5% in the radiation alone group. 40% in the chemoradiation group. There was no statistical differences in overall survival rates and disease free survival rates between the two groups.Local recurrences occurred in 71.5% of the radiation alone group. 72.7% of the chemoradiation group and distant metastasis occurred in 14.4% of radiation alone group. 9.1% of the chemoradiation group. The frequencies of complications were comparable in both groups except hematologic toxicity. CONCLUSION: Total response rates in the combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy was relatively higher than radiotherapy alone. But our result failed to show any survival benefit of the combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The accrual of large number of patients and long term follow-up may be necessary to confirm the present result of combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy.