Diesel Exhaust Particles Impair Therapeutic Effect of Human Wharton’s Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells against Experimental Colitis through ROS/ERK/cFos Signaling Pathway

Background and Objectives@#Epidemiological investigations have shown positive correlations between increased diesel exhaust particles (DEP) in ambient air and adverse health outcomes. DEP are the major constituent of particulate atmospheric pollution and have been shown to induce proinflammatory responses both in the lung and systemically. Here, we report the effects of DEP exposure on the properties of human Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs), including stemness, regeneration, and immunomodulation. @*Methods@#and Results: Non-apoptotic concentrations of DEP (10 μg/ml) inhibited the migration and osteogenic differentiation capacity of WJ-MSCs. Gene expression profiling showed that DEP increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and expression of pro-inflammatory and metabolic-process-related genes including cFos. Furthermore, WJ-MSCs cultured with DEP showed impaired suppression of T cell proliferation that was reversed by inhibition of ROS or knockdown of cFos. ERK inhibition assay revealed that DEP-induced ROS regulated cFos through activation of ERK but not NF-κB signaling. Overall, low concentrations of DEP (10 μg/ml) significantly suppressed the stemness and immunomodulatory properties of WJ-MSCs through ROS/ERK/cFos signaling pathways. Furthermore, WJ-MSCs cultured with DEP impaired the therapeutic effect of WJ-MSCs in experimental colitis mice, but was partly reversed by inhibition of ROS. @*Conclusions@#Taken together, these results indicate that exposure to DEP enhances the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and immune responses through a mechanism involving the ROS/ERK/cFos pathway in WJ-MSCs, and that DEP-induced ROS damage impairs the therapeutic effect of WJ-MSCs in colitis. Our results suggest that modulation of ROS/ERK/cFos signaling pathways in WJ-MSCs might be a novel therapeutic strategy for DEP-induced diseases.

A pilot study using machine learning methods about factors influencing prognosis of dental implants

PURPOSE: This study tried to find the most significant factors predicting implant prognosis using machine learning methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data used in this study was based on a systematic search of chart files at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital for one year. In this period, oral and maxillofacial surgeons inserted 667 implants in 198 patients after consultation with a prosthodontist. The traditional statistical methods were inappropriate in this study, which analyzed the data of a small sample size to find a factor affecting the prognosis. The machine learning methods were used in this study, since these methods have analyzing power for a small sample size and are able to find a new factor that has been unknown to have an effect on the result. A decision tree model and a support vector machine were used for the analysis. RESULTS: The results identified mesio-distal position of the inserted implant as the most significant factor determining its prognosis. Both of the machine learning methods, the decision tree model and support vector machine, yielded the similar results. CONCLUSION: Dental clinicians should be careful in locating implants in the patient's mouths, especially mesio-distally, to minimize the negative complications against implant survival.

A Case of Lupus Pneumonitis Therapy in a Patient with Acute Systemic Lupus Erythematosus / 대한내과학회지

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a connective tissue disease with multiple organ involvement due to atypical creation of an antibody to an intracellular component. Although it can directly invade respiratory organs, such as the pleura, pulmonary parenchyma, trachea, pulmonary vessels, and pulmonary muscle, pulmonary involvement is mostly secondary to infection after immunosuppressant use, and pulmonary parenchyma invasion due to an immune response is relatively rare. This is a case report of acute lupus pneumonitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus who was successfully treated with steroid therapy.

A Case of Lupus Pneumonitis Therapy in a Patient with Acute Systemic Lupus Erythematosus / 대한내과학회지

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a connective tissue disease with multiple organ involvement due to atypical creation of an antibody to an intracellular component. Although it can directly invade respiratory organs, such as the pleura, pulmonary parenchyma, trachea, pulmonary vessels, and pulmonary muscle, pulmonary involvement is mostly secondary to infection after immunosuppressant use, and pulmonary parenchyma invasion due to an immune response is relatively rare. This is a case report of acute lupus pneumonitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus who was successfully treated with steroid therapy.

A Case of Primary Mature Teratoma of the Rectum

A mature teratoma is a tumor composed of normal derivatives of all three germ layers, and usually occurs in ovaries, testes, or mediastinum. Mature teratoma of the gastrointestinal tract occurs less frequently, and case reports of primary mature teratoma of the rectum have not been published much. Here, we report a 65-year-old woman patient presented with lower abdominal discomfort. Colonoscopy revealed a pedunculated polypoid tumor arising from the rectum with hairs on its surface, and endoscopic ultrasound revealed an exophytic pattern bulging from the serosa. The tumor was removed surgically and confirmed histologically as a benign, primary mature teratoma of the rectum.

A Case of Malignant Granular Cell Tumor in the Sigmoid Colon

Granular cell tumor (GCT) is an uncommon, usually benign neoplasm; however, a malignant potential has been described. Malignant GCT is an extremely rare neoplasm showing rapid growth and invasion into adjacent muscles, lymph nodes, or vessels, or even distant metastasis. We recently experienced a case of a histologically benign or atypical but clinically malignant GCT, with invasion of the lymph nodes and vessels in the sigmoid colon, diagnosed by segmental colon resection with lymph node dissection. We also performed a review of relevant medical literature.

The Prevalence of Barrett's Esophagus and the Comparison of Barrett's Esophagus with Cardiac Intestinal Metaplasia in the Health Screening at a Secondary Care Hospital / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus (BE) and its association with reflux esophagitis (RE) and peptic ulcer disease detected by free charge endoscopy which was covered by the National Health Insurance at a secondary care hospital, and to compare the results of the biopsy of BE with that of cardiac intestinal metaplasia (CIM). METHODS: A total of 4,002 patients underwent endoscopy from March 2010 to December 2012. BE was diagnosed if there was histologically proven specialized intestinal metaplasia, and CIM was diagnosed if intestinal metaplasia was accompanied with chronic gastritis. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty four patients underwent endoscopic biopsy, and the prevalence of BE was 1.0% (42/4,002). The mean age and the proportion of males in BE were significantly higher than those of the rest of study population, and BE had slight tendency related to RE than the rest of study population. CIM was observed in 34 patients and BE and CIM showed similar results, regarding age, sex and association with RE. The mean length of endoscopic Barrett's mucosa of BE group was 9.2+/-5.1 mm, and it was similar to that of CIM. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of BE in the secondary care hospital was not low, and old age and male sex were significantly associated with BE. Because BE was observed in about 10% of biopsied patients and CIM was observed in a similar percentage with BE, the precise targeted biopsy is warranted and the biopsy method should be reestablished through the large prospective study of multiple secondary care hospitals.

A Case of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Following Mitomycin C Treated with Long Intensive Plasmapheresis / 대한신장학회지

HUS (Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome) is characterized by acute renal failure, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and thrombocytopenia. In classical HUS, hemorrhagic diarrhea precedes. It is frequently associated with E. Coli O157:H7. Less frequently, HUS may also develop after various treatments such as mitomycin C, cyclosporine, quinine, and ticlopidine. Plasmapheresis is effective in most of classical HUS, which induces a complete remission in most patients with classical HUS. However, this treatment is ineffective in HUS associated with mitomycin C. Although Plasmapheresis is effective on hematologic abnormality in this atypical HUS, chronic renal insufficiency frequently persists as a sequella in HUS associated with mitomycin C. We here report on one patient who developed HUS following mitomycin C therapy due to cervix cancer. The patient was treated with intensive and prolonged plasmapheresis. There was a complete hematologic improvement and steady improvement in renal function.

Renal masses in end-stage renal disease patients on dialysis / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are at a higher risk for cancer, especially renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD) and long duration of dialysis predict RCC in these patients. We explored the cilnical and pathologic characteristics of renal masses and the factors predicting malignant tumors. METHODS: The study examined the medical records of 38 ESRD patients who underwent partial/total nephrectomy due to renal masses diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography at YUHS from January 1995 to December 2009. RESULTS: Renal masses were recorded in 38 patients (21 males) with a mean age of 48.3+/-13.2 years. Twenty patients (52.6%) were on hemodialysis and 18 patients (47.4%) were on peritoneal dialysis, for a mean period of 106.4+/-62.5 months. ACKD was reported in 23 patients (67.6%). Of the 38 renal masses, 23 (60.5%) were diagnosed as malignant tumors and 15 (39.5%) were benign tumors. Clear cell RCC (n=16) and hematoma (n=6) was the predominant respective types. The patients with malignant tumors had a significantly longer duration of dialysis (122.3+/-61.8 vs. 81.1+/-56.7 months, p<0.05) and a higher prevalence of ACKD (87.0 vs. 46.7%, p<0.01) compared to the patients with benign tumors. CONCLUSIONS: The most common renal mass in ESRD patients was RCC. Malignant tumors were significantly associated with a longer duration of dialysis and ACKD. Therefore, early evaluation and treatment of RCC are mandatory in long-term dialysis patients with ACKD.

A Case of Wegener's Granulomatosis Presenting with Cerebral Infarction and Intracerebral Hemorrhage / 대한류마티스학회지

Wegener's granulomatosis is a multisystem necrotizing vasculitis that primarily involves the upper and lower respiratory tract and kidneys but can affect almost any organ, including the central nervous system. Cerebral infarction and intracerebral hemorrhage are rare neurologic complications of Wegener's granulomatosis. We report on a 52-year-old male patient with Wegener's granulomatosis presenting with a cerebral infarction and subsequent intracerebral hemorrhage. He was successfully treated with high dose corticosteroid and cyclophosphamide.

Association of Allergic Disease with the Sinusitis in Children

Sinusitis manifested as symptomatic imflammation of the paranasal sinuses is a common pediatric diagnosis. Many studies have focused more directly on the question of relationship between allergy and sinusitis but the relevance of the relationship between allergy and sinusitis still needs further examination, The purpose of this study is to assess of relationship of allergy to extent or severity of sinusitis. A clinical evaluation was performed on 199 children, age 2 to 15 years, in whom the diagnosis of sinusitis was confirmed by paranasal sinus radiographic assessment at our hospital Pediatric OPD and in the ward from July 1991 to June 1993. The results were as follows: 1) Male was more prominent than female (M:F ratio 1.76:1). The age distribution, 100 cases(55.2%) of the total case were 4-7 year old. 2) The symptoms were coughing, most common (77,9%), rhinorrhea, nasal discharge and nasal stuffiness, in decreasing order. The clinical signs were postnasal drip (62.8%), most common, throat injection, wheezing sound, and allergic shiner in decreasing order. Eighty eight patients were evaluated acute and compared with 111 patients with chronic sinusitis. 3) Comparable study between two groups were summarized as follwos: (1) There was no significant difference in age and sex distribution between acute and chronic group. (2) The lowest seasonal incidence of acute group was seen in summer and autumn but there was no significant variation between both group (p>0.05). (3) Allergc disease was more prevalent in chronc group than acute group (p0.05).

Two cases of multiple brain abscess associated with bacterial meninitis in neonate

We experienced nutiple brain abscess in two neonates. Diagnosis was made CT scan, Which revealed multiple ring-like enhancing leason in both frontoparietal and left posterior parietal cerebral parenchyme. Therapy was consisted of systemic antibiotic treatment and CSF V-P shunt operation due to complicated hydrocephalus. One neonate was died and the other neonate has been followed up due to convulsion and neurological sequale.