Triptolide downregulates human GD3 synthase (hST8Sia I) gene expression in SK-MEL-2 human melanoma cells

In this study, we have shown that gene expression of human GD3 synthase (hST8Sia I) is suppressed by triptolide (TPL) in human melanoma SK-MEL-2 cells. To elucidate the mechanism underlying the downregulation of hST8Sia I gene expression in TPL-treated SK-MEL-2 cells, we characterized the TPL-inducible promoter region within the hST8Sia I gene using luciferase constructs carrying 5'-deletions of the hST8Sia I promoter. Functional analysis of the 5'-flanking region of the hST8Sia I gene demonstrated that the -1146 to -646 region, which contains putative binding sites for transcription factors c-Ets-1, CREB, AP-1 and NF-kappaB, functions as the TPL-inducible promoter of hST8Sia I in SK-MEL-2 cells. Site-directed mutagenesis and ChIP analysis indicated that the NF-kappaB binding site at -731 to -722 is crucial for TPL-induced suppression of hST8Sia I in SK-MEL-2 cells. This suggests that TPL induces down-regulation of hST8Sia I gene expression through NF-kappaB activation in human melanoma cells.

A case of Intravascular Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction due to Anti-Jkb / 대한수혈학회지

We report a hemolytic transfusion reaction with acute intravascular hemolysis due to anti-Jkb in a 49-year-old woman with uterine myoma. A patient experienced chills, fever, and red color urine following the transfusion of 1.25 units of packed red cells, shown to be compatible by the conventional cross-matching tube method. She had been received two units transfusion 3 weeks ago and there was no transfusion reaction at that time. One day after transfusion, her laboratory data showed total bilirubin 2.7 mg/dL, LDH 2,310 IU/L, and a trace positive direct antiglobulin test. Irregular antibody screening test was negative by the conventional tube methods but anti-Jkb was identified by column agglutination method. The presence of anti-Jkb provided an explanation for the acute hemolytic reaction. The hemolytic transfusion reaction was secondary responses following the previous transfusion. She showed severe hemoglobinuria, but renal failure did not develop and she was fully recovered with maintaining adequate renal output with IV diuretics.

The Effect of Common Bile Duct Ligation on Liver Morphology and Coper Metabolism in Rat

To clarity the effect of biliary obliteration on copper metabolism of rat liver and on the hepatic morphology, 0.5% cuppuric sulfate was administered intraperitoneally for 42 days following ligation of the common bile duct (CBD) of Sprague-Dawley rats. The blood copper concentration, the hepatic copper content and the accumulation patterns of copper and copper binding protein in the liver were examined and compared with those of the simple CBD ligation group and the simple copper over loaded group. CBD ligation induced marked proliferation of bile ductular structures which, after expanding the portal tracts, invaded and divided the hepatic lobules. There was, however, no excess fibosis beyond what needed to support the new ductules. The blood copper concentration and the hepatic copper content were increased by copper overload with or without CBD ligation, particularly incases with CBD ligation. Liver cell necrosis did not occur by the overloaded copper alone in rats. The hepatic copper and copper binding protein were accumulated at periportal liver cells in the group of coppe overload after CBD ligatio, whereas they began to appear at perivenular hepatocytes in the simple copper overloaded group. In conclusion, it is suggested that CBD ligation does not induce excess fibrosis or liver cirrhosis in rat as far as during our experimental period, but affect significantly on copper metabolism by intrahepatic redistribution of the copper and the copper binding proteins.

Gastric Tuberculosis Associated with Gastric Carcinoma: A case report

The tuberculosis of the stomach is very rare disease and its association with gastric carcinoma is more so. The diagnosis of gastric tuberculosis is usually made on the histological basis not clinical findings. This case of gastric tuberculosis was found incidentally after the subtotal gastrectomy performed under the impression of stomach cancer. There was an ill-defined ulcerative lesion at the lesser curvature. Microscopically, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma extended to the serosa and typical tuberculous granulomas were found in the lesion of stomach and regional lymph nodes. Acid-fast bacilli were demonstrated by Ziehl-Neelsen stain in the granuloms of the regional lymph nodes, and a case of gastric carcinoma is presented here and briefly reviewed with the literature.

Shigella flexneri bacteremia: A case report

Shigella bacteremia occurs so rarely that blood culture is useless for the laboratory diagnosis of dysentery. S flexneri type 2 was isolated from a blood culture of a 3-year-old boy with clinical diagnosis of dysentery. A stool culture was negative for not only shigella but also other pathogenic bacteria. This was the only shigella-positive blood culture during the last 12 1/2 years although more than 1,200 cases of bacteriologically proven dysentery were encountered. One of the 4 bottles inoculated with 2 blood samples drawn on the 4th day of illness yielded numerous shigella and few Klebsiella pneumoniae colonies on subculture. On admission the patient was a moderately nourished boy with body temperature of 38 degrees C. The leukocyte count was 10,200/microliter with 29% neutrophils. No evidence of septicemia was noted. He was placed on antibiotics and fluid replacement. The patient was discharged in 6 days after full recovery.