Dendropanax morbifera Extract Inhibits Intimal Hyperplasia in Balloon-Injured Rat Carotid Arteries by Modulating Phenotypic Changes in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

The plant Dendropanax morbifera Léveille is effective folk medicines for the treatment of several conditions, such as infectious diseases, skin diseases, and other illnesses. Although the inhibitory effects of D. morbifera on the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) have been shown in our previous study, its effects in vivo remain to be elucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of the extracts from D. morbifera (EDM) on neointimal hyperplasia of rat carotid artery and explore the underlying mechanisms. We observed that the ratio of intima to media thickness (I/M) was significantly decreased in the EDM-treated groups by ~80% compared to that of the control. The expression of Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen was decreased by ~70% in the EDM-treated groups compared to that of the control. In addition, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2 and MMP9 significantly reduced in the neointimal layer of the EDM-treated groups. Moreover, the decreased levels of contractile phenotypic markers of VSMCs, such as α-smooth muscle actin, myocardin, and smooth muscle-myosin heavy chain, were successfully restored by EDM treatment. Furthermore, the levels of synthetic phenotypic markers, cellular retinal binding protein 1 and connexin 43 were also restored to normal levels. These results suggest that EDM inhibits vascular neointimal hyperplasia induced by balloon injury in rats via phenotypic modulation of VSMCs. Therefore, EDM may be a potential drug candidate for the prevention of restenosis.

Bilateral multiple renal arteries with an extra-aortic origin and quadruple testicular veins / 대한해부학회지

Incidentally found cystic lymphangioma of the adrenal gland in an elderly male cadaver / 영남의대학술지

Adrenal cystic lymphangiomas are extremely rare entities that are often identified incidentally, with less than 60 cases reported to date. We found a protruding ovoid mass consisting of a multiloculated cystic lesion within right adrenal gland in the cadaver of a 75-year-old Korean man. The epithelial cells lining the adrenal cyst were diffusely positive for cluster of differentiation 31 and podoplanin, and negative for pan-cytokeratin. The histopathological diagnosis confirmed a cystic lymphangioma arising from the adrenal gland. Post-mortem findings of the present case are discussed based on the clinicopathological features of adrenal cystic lymphangiomas.

Incidentally found cystic lymphangioma of the adrenal gland in an elderly male cadaver / 영남의대학술지

Adrenal cystic lymphangiomas are extremely rare entities that are often identified incidentally, with less than 60 cases reported to date. We found a protruding ovoid mass consisting of a multiloculated cystic lesion within right adrenal gland in the cadaver of a 75-year-old Korean man. The epithelial cells lining the adrenal cyst were diffusely positive for cluster of differentiation 31 and podoplanin, and negative for pan-cytokeratin. The histopathological diagnosis confirmed a cystic lymphangioma arising from the adrenal gland. Post-mortem findings of the present case are discussed based on the clinicopathological features of adrenal cystic lymphangiomas.

Killian-Jamieson diverticulum lined with two epithelia in a Korean cadaver / 대한해부학회지

Killian-Jamieson diverticulum is a permanent protrusion of anterolateral proximal esophagus through anatomically weak muscular gap, known as Killian-Jamieson area, into adjacent area. During a routine educational dissection, we found a well-defined lateral diverticulum just inferior to the transverse fibers of the cricopharyngeus muscle in a Korean male cadaver. It had a dimension of 1.8×1.4×1.0 cm with two types of epithelial cells, stratified squamous and simple cuboidal to low-columnar epithelium, and attenuated and haphazardly arranged muscle fibers. No epithelial dysplasia or malignant transformation was identified except ulcerative changes. Although Killian-Jamieson diverticulum is a very rare disease, clinicopathological aspects should be considered.

Exogenous spermidine ameliorates tubular necrosis during cisplatin nephrotoxicity / 대한해부학회지

The hallmark of cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury is the necrotic cell death in the kidney proximal tubules. However, an effective approach to limit cisplatin nephrotoxicity remains unknown. Spermidine is a polyamine that protects against oxidative stress and necrosis in aged yeasts, and the present study found that exogenous spermidine markedly attenuated tubular necrosis and kidney dysfunction, but not apoptosis, during cisplatin nephrotoxicity. In addition, exogenous spermidine potently inhibited oxidative/nitrative DNA damage, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) activation and ATP depletion after cisplatin injection. Conversely, inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) via siRNA transfection in vivo significantly increased DNA damage, PARP1 activation and ATP depletion, resulting in acceleration of tubular necrosis and kidney dysfunction. Finally, exogenous spermidine removed severe cisplatin injury induced by ODC inhibition. In conclusion, these data suggest that spermidine protects kidneys against cisplatin injury through DNA damage and tubular necrosis, and this finding provides a novel target to prevent acute kidney injury including nephrotoxicity.

A Bilateral Double Sternalis Muscle in a Korean Cadaver / 체질인류학회지

Although the sternalis muscle has been well known to anatomists, it is quite unfamiliar to clinicians. During routine educational dissection, we came across a well-defined bilateral double sternalis muscle innervated by the intercostal nerve, respectively. The right sternalis muscle 1) became tendinous to insert into the sternum and 2) crossed midline and then intermingled with the left pectoralis major muscle, which could be classified into a double with single cross based on Snosek et al.'s criteria. The left sternalis muscle was composed of two bellies, which were combined at the midway, and became tendinous to insert into the contralateral manubrium, which could be classified into a bicipital diverging with double cross based on Snosek et al.'s criteria. The detailed knowledge on the sternalisis is important for clinicians as well as for anatomists, since the clinical importance of the sternalis muscle has been highlighted in recent years.

Effect of Smoking on Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture in Postmenopausal Women

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between smoking and osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs) in postmenopausal women. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Several studies have examined the relationship of smoking with hip fractures, but few studies have analyzed the relationship of smoking with spine fractures in women thus far. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study considered 1255 postmenopausal women aged 50 years and older (enrollment from April 2008 to January 2009) from 62 study sites in a nationwide hospital. The amount of smoking was calculated in pack-years. Further, OVFs were diagnosed using a semi-quantitative method. To analyze the relationship between smoking and OVFs, we used a paired t-test, a χ2-test, and a binary logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The past history of smoking was 7.2% in the patient group and 4.3% in the control group (p=0.025). The mean pack-years of smoking was 0.34 in the control group and 0.62 in the patient group (p=130). The mean T-score in the lumbar bone mass density (BMD) was –1.64 in the control group and –2.19 in the patient group (p=0.409). Smoking was a risk factor of vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women (odd's ratio=1.68, 95% confidence interval=1.020–2.759, p=0.042) irrespective of the lumbar BMD and the medical treatment for osteoporosis and obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking is a risk factor for osteoporotic vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women independently without regard to lumbar BMD. Therefore, cessation of smoking is important for the prevention of OVFs in postmenopausal women.

The Relationship between Academic Achievements and Curricular Changes on Anatomy Based on Basic Medical Education Examination / 체질인류학회지

We attempted to investigate the effects of curricular change on a basic medical science, anatomy, based on academic achievements including Basic Medical Education Examination (BMEE). We performed an analysis between the academic years of 2011 and 2012. Independent-samples t-test for the academic achievements, paired-samples t-test for the promotion, and correlation analysis for the related subcategory of the anatomy based on the results of BMEE, which was done with SPSS 22.0. In this follow-up study for two academic years, the academic achievements decreased as the students went to the next grade under the changed curriculum of anatomy. The academic achievements decreased as the students went to the next grade in the academic year 2012 while it increased in 2011 (p<0.01). Although averages of school evaluations were similar between the academic years, the academic achievements were different from each other: it was higher in first BMEE for 2012, and in second BMEE for 2011 (p<0.05). Although the correlation was not found among school evaluations, first and second BMEE of 2011, the associations were seen both between school evaluations (p<0.01) and each BMEE (p<0.05), respectively, in 2012. These results suggested that professors of medical school should continue to lead the direction of the curriculum improvement and management depending on the academic achievement, and also to monitor all the processes, maintaining a quality of the assessment system although it might be difficult to be representative or generalize for all medial schools.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase regulates glycolytic activity in kidney proximal tubule epithelial cells / 대한해부학회지

After renal injury, selective damage occurs in the proximal tubules as a result of inhibition of glycolysis. The molecular mechanism of damage is not known. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activation plays a critical role of proximal tubular cell death in several renal disorders. Here, we studied the role of PARP on glycolytic flux in pig kidney proximal tubule epithelial LLC-PK1 cells using XFp extracellular flux analysis. Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation by PARP activation was increased approximately 2-fold by incubation of the cells in 10 mM glucose for 30 minutes, but treatment with the PARP inhibitor 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB) does-dependently prevented the glucose-induced PARP activation (approximately 14.4% decrease in 0.1 mM 3-AB-treated group and 36.7% decrease in 1 mM 3-AB-treated group). Treatment with 1 mM 3-AB significantly enhanced the glucose-mediated increase in the extracellular acidification rate (61.1±4.3 mpH/min vs. 126.8±6.2 mpH/min or approximately 2-fold) compared with treatment with vehicle, indicating that PARP inhibition increases only glycolytic activity during glycolytic flux including basal glycolysis, glycolytic activity, and glycolytic capacity in kidney proximal tubule epithelial cells. Glucose increased the activities of glycolytic enzymes including hexokinase, phosphoglucose isomerase, phosphofructokinase-1, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, enolase, and pyruvate kinase in LLC-PK1 cells. Furthermore, PARP inhibition selectively augmented the activities of hexokinase (approximately 1.4-fold over vehicle group), phosphofructokinase-1 (approximately 1.6-fold over vehicle group), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (approximately 2.2-fold over vehicle group). In conclusion, these data suggest that PARP activation may regulate glycolytic activity via poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of hexokinase, phosphofructokinase-1, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in kidney proximal tubule epithelial cells.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 contributes to oxidative stress through downregulation of sirtuin 3 during cisplatin nephrotoxicity / 대한해부학회지

Enhanced oxidative stress is a hallmark of cisplatin nephrotoxicity, and inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) attenuates oxidative stress during cisplatin nephrotoxicity; however, the precise mechanisms behind its action remain elusive. Here, using an in vitro model of cisplatin-induced injury to human kidney proximal tubular cells, we demonstrated that the protective effect of PARP1 inhibition on oxidative stress is associated with sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) activation. Exposure to 400 µM cisplatin for 8 hours in cells decreased activity and expression of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and SIRT3, while it increased their lysine acetylation. However, treatment with 1 µM PJ34 hydrochloride, a potent PARP1 inhibitor, restored activity and/or expression in those antioxidant enzymes, decreased lysine acetylation of those enzymes, and improved SIRT3 expression and activity in the cisplatin-injured cells. Using transfection with SIRT3 double nickase plasmids, SIRT3-deficient cells given cisplatin did not show the ameliorable effect of PARP1 inhibition on lysine acetylation and activity of antioxidant enzymes, including MnSOD, catalase and GPX. Furthermore, SIRT3 deficiency in cisplatin-injured cells prevented PARP1 inhibition-induced increase in forkhead box O3a transcriptional activity, and upregulation of MnSOD and catalase. Finally, loss of SIRT3 in cisplatin-exposed cells removed the protective effect of PARP1 inhibition against oxidative stress, represented by the concentration of lipid hydroperoxide and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine; and necrotic cell death represented by a percentage of propidium iodide–positively stained cells. Taken together, these results indicate that PARP1 inhibition protects kidney proximal tubular cells against oxidative stress through SIRT3 activation during cisplatin nephrotoxicity.

The Use of T1 Sagittal Angle in Predicting Cervical Disc Degeneration

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective evaluation. PURPOSE: To analyze the effect of T1 slope on degree of degeneration in patients with cervical disc degeneration. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The T1 slope is well known parameter that may be very useful in evaluating sagittal balance. There are no reports on the analysis of the relationship between T1 slope and cervical disc degeneration. We hypothesized that T1 slope has an effect on the degree of cervical degeneration. METHODS: Sixty patients who had cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in our orthopedic clinic were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups according to T1 slope. Radiologic parameters obtained from radiography and cervical spine MRI were compared between low T1 slope group (25). RESULTS: Among low T1 slope group, average degeneration grade of each cervical segment was 2.65 in C2-3, 2.50 in C3-4, 2.62 in C4-5, 3.23 in C5-6, and 2.81 in C6-7. And that of high T1 group was 2.35 in C2-3, 2.32 in C3-4, 2.59 in C4-5, 2.79 in C5-6, and 2.32 in C6-7. Grade of degeneration of low T1 group was significantly higher, as compared with high T1 group in C5-6 (p=0.028) and C6-7 (p=0.009). Percentage of high grade degeneration of more than grand III was 65.4% in low T1 group and 32.4% in high T1 group (p=0.018). Risk of high grade degeneration of C6-7 was significantly higher in low T1 group (odds ratio, 5.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.665-19.057; p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with low T1 slope had higher grade of degeneration regardless of age and gender. Low T1 slope is a potential risk factor of cervical spondylosis especially in the C6-7 cervical segment.

The Short Term Results of Radial Head Arthroplasty with Unipolar Loose Fit Stem

PURPOSE: We report short-term results of radial head prosthesis using a unipolar loose fit stem in ten patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with Mason type three radial head fracture, who received unipolar radial head arthroplasty from February 2010 to June 2011, were evaluated (mean follow-up: 22 months, range: 18-30 months). Subjects consisted of five men and five women. Range of elbow motion was measured. Mayo elbow performance index (MEPI) score was used for functional evaluation and periodic radiological imaging was performed to evaluate the stability of implant. RESULTS: After an average follow-up of 22 months, elbow stability was maintained in all cases, and the average range of motion of elbow flexion and extension was 6 to 130 degrees. Average range of pronation and supination was 66 and 74 degrees, respectively. MEPI score was evaluated as excellent in seven cases, and good in three cases. On final follow-up, radiological assessment showed implant stability in all cases without evidence of dislocation, subluxation, arthritis, periprosthetic osteolysis or heterotopic ossification. CONCLUSION: Based on our short-term follow-up, radial head arthroplasty with unipolar loose fit stem is a useful method for obtaining satisfactory outcome for unreducible comminuted radial head fractures.

Dual left anterior interventricular coronary artery with a rare course in a Korean / 대한해부학회지

Dual left anterior interventricular coronary artery (also called left anterior descending artery, hereafter referred as LAD) is a rare congenital coronary artery anomaly. Notably, type IV dual LAD has never been reported in Koreans. During a routine dissection, a new variant of type IV dual LAD was found in a 57-year-old Korean male cadaver, whose cause of death was unknown. One LAD originated from the right coronary artery, coursed through the anterior interventricular sulcus, but did not reach the apex cordis. The other LAD arose from the left coronary artery, never entered the anterior interventricular sulcus through its course, but reached the apex cordis, where it met the posterior interventricular branch of the right coronary artery. This is the first report on a new variant of type IV dual LAD in Koreans, which is of clinical importance during procedures containing the coronary artery.

Efficacy of External Fixation and Transfixation Pinning of Distal Radioulnar Joint in Distal Radius Fracture

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate efficacy of percutaneous pinning of distal radioulnar joint in patient with distal radius fracture. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients who underwent percutaneous pinning and external fixation for distal radius fracture were included in this study. Radiologic and clinical outcomes were compared between the patients who underwent percutaneous pinning on the radius only (PD group) and the patients with supplementary pinning on distal radioulnar joint (DRU group) after percutaneous pinning on the radius. External fixation was performed in all patients. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were PD group and fifteen patients were DRU group. Radial height and radial inclination was significantly higher in DRU group. There was no significant difference in ulnar variance, volar tilt and articular step off between two groups. Among the clinical outcome, there was no significant difference in range of motion between two groups but grip strength was significantly larger in DRU group. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous pinning with K-wires on distal radioulnar joint in distal radius fracture can be a useful procedure for prevention of radial shortening without loss of range of motion of the wrist.

Cisplatin induces primary necrosis through poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 activation in kidney proximal tubular cells / 대한해부학회지

Treatment with cisplatin for cancer therapy has a major side effect such as nephrotoxicity; however, the role of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) in necrosis in response to cisplatin nephrotoxicity remains to be defined. Here we report that cisplatin induces primary necrosis through PARP1 activation in kidney proximal tubular cells derived from human, pig and mouse. Treatment with high dose of cisplatin for 4 and 8 hours induced primary necrosis, as represented by the percentage of propidium iodide-positive cells and lactate dehydrogenase release. The primary necrosis was correlated with PARP1 activation during cisplatin injury. Treatment with PJ34, a potent PARP1 inhibitor, at 2 hours after injury attenuated primary necrosis after 8 hours of cisplatin injury as well as PARP1 activation. PARP1 inhibition also reduced the release of lactate dehydrogenase and high mobility group box protein 1 from kidney proximal tubular cells at 8 hours after cisplatin injury. Oxidative stress was increased by treatment with cisplatin for 8 hours as shown by 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and lipid hydroperoxide assays, but PARP1 inhibition at 2 hours after injury reduced the oxidative damage. These data demonstrate that cisplatin-induced PARP1 activation contributes to primary necrosis through oxidative stress in kidney proximal tubular cells, resulting in the induction of cisplatin nephrotoxicity and inflammation.

Neck muscle atrophy and soft-tissue fibrosis after neck dissection and postoperative radiotherapy for oral cancer

Late complications of head and neck cancer survivors include neck muscle atrophy and soft-tissue fibrosis. We present an autopsy case of neck muscle atrophy and soft-tissue fibrosis (sternocleidomastoid, omohyoid, digastric, sternohyoid, sternothyroid, and platysma muscles) within the radiation field after modified radical neck dissection type I and postoperative radiotherapy for floor of mouth cancer. A 70-year-old man underwent primary tumor resection of the left floor of mouth, left marginal mandibulectomy, left modified radical neck dissection type I, and reconstruction with a radial forearm free flap. The patient received adjuvant radiotherapy. The dose to the primary tumor bed and involved neck nodes was 63 Gy in 35 fractions over 7 weeks. Areas of subclinical disease (left lower neck) received 50 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks. Adjuvant chemotherapy was not administered.

Anatomic Variations of Cervical and High Thoracic Ligamentum Flavum / 대한통증학회지

BACKGROUND: Epidural blocks are widely used for the management of acute and chronic pain. The technique of loss of resistance is frequently adopted to determine the epidural space. A discontinuity of the ligamentum flavum may increase the risk of failure to identify the epidural space. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anatomic variations of the cervical and high thoracic ligamentum flavum in embalmed cadavers. METHODS: Vertebral column specimens of 15 human cadavers were obtained. After vertebral arches were detached from pedicles, the dural sac and epidural connective tissue were removed. The ligamentum flavum from C3 to T6 was directly examined anteriorly. RESULTS: The incidence of midline gaps in the ligamentum flavum was 87%-100% between C3 and T2. The incidence decreased below this level and was the lowest at T4-T5 (8%). Among the levels with a gap, the location of a gap in the caudal third of the ligamentum flavum was more frequent than in the middle or cephalic portion of the ligamentum flavum. CONCLUSIONS: The cervical and high thoracic ligamentum flavum frequently has midline intervals with various features, especially in the caudal portion of the intervertebral space. Therefore, the ligamentum flavum is not always reliable as a perceptible barrier to identify the epidural space at these vertebral levels. Additionally, it may be more useful to insert the needle into the cephalic portion of the intervertebral space than in the caudal portion.

Quality of Life Comparison between Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty in Patients with Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective evaluation. PURPOSE: To compare quality of life in postmenopausal women with osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs) who underwent vertebroplasty (VP) or kyphoplasty (KP). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Patient with OVFs who do not respond to conservative treatment can be treated with VP or ballon KP for faster pain relief. There are controversies on which procedure is more effective. METHODS: Five hundred twenty-eight postmenopausal women in nationwide hospitals with age of 50 years or older who underwent VP of KP for OVFs were enrolled in this study. Health related quality of life was measured using the European Quality of Life 5 Domains (EQ-5D) and visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: In the VP group, average EQ-5D dimension was 1.95 in mobility, 1.86 in self care, 2.02 in usual activity, 2.19 in pain, 1.69 in anxiety or depression. In the KP group, average EQ-5D dimension was 1.83 in mobility, 1.78 in self care, 1.98 in usual activity, 2.03 in pain, 1.55 in anxiety or depression. Quality of life of KP group was significantly better than that of the VP group in mobility (p=0.016), pain (p=0.001), and anxiety or depression (p=0.008). Average EQ-5D index of the VP and the KP group was 0.353 (+/-0.472) and 0.485 (+/-0.357), respectively. The EQ-5D index of the KP group was significantly (p<0.001) higher than that of the KP group. The difference of VAS between VP and KP group was not statistically significant (p=0.580). CONCLUSIONS: Quality of life in patient with OVFs who underwent KP was significantly better than that of patients who underwent VP.

Uncommon branching pattern with a prominent articular ramus of the inferior gluteal artery in a Korean male cadaver / 대한해부학회지

We found a rare case of uncommon branching pattern with a prominent articular ramus of the inferior gluteal artery in a 39-year-old Korean male cadaver, whose cause of death was rectal carcinoma. The inferior gluteal artery branches off downwards at a time, the muscular rami ran in parallel with one another, and the articular ramus gave another muscular branch and has an anastomosis with the medial circumflex femoral artery. Knowledge of vascular variations in the gluteal region may give useful information of versatile flaps for reconstruction and the prominent articular ramus found in this case is good enough to consider the existence of the anastomosis between the medial circumflex femoral artery and the inferior gluteal artery as normal, not rudimentary