Methanol extracts of Humulus japonicus induced apoptosis in human FaDu hypopharynx squamous carcinoma cells

Humulus japonicus (HJ) is a widely used herbal medicine for pulmonary tuberculosis, hypertension, leprosy, and venomous wounds in Asia, particularly in China. Although HJ has certain physiological activities, such as longitudinal bone growth, antioxidation and alleviation of rheumatism, its anticancer activities, other than in colorectal and ovarian cancer, are yet to be studied. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity and mechanism of methanol extracts of HJ (MeHJ) against human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. MeHJ suppressed FaDu cell viability without affecting normal cells (L929), which was demonstrated using the MTT and Live & Dead assays.Furthermore, MeHJ effectively inhibited colony formation of FaDu cells, even at non-cytotoxic concentrations, and significantly induced apoptosis through the proteolytic cleavage of caspase-9, -3, -7, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and through the downregulation of BCL-2 and upregulation of BAX in FaDu cells, as determined by DAPI staining, flow cytometry, and western blot analyses. Collectively, these findings suggest that the inhibitory effects of MeHJ on the growth and colony formation of oral cancer cells may be mediated by caspase- and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, MeHJ has the potential to be used as a natural chemotherapeutic drug against human oral cancer.

Apoptosis induced by water extracts of Nypa fruticans wurmb via a mitochondria-dependent pathway in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells

Nypa fruticans Wurmb (NFW) contains a large amount of phenolic acid and flavonoids, and is popular as a superfood in Myanmar. NFW has various biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and neuroprotective properties; however, the anti-cancer effect of NFW have not been reported. In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of water extracts of NFW (WeNFW) and the underlying mechanism in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. The WeNFW inhibited FaDu cell growth in a dose-dependent manner without affecting normal cells (L929), as determined by an MTT assay and Live and Dead assay. In addition, the concentrations of WeNFW without cytotoxicity (0.025, 0.05, and 0.1 mg/mL) inhibited wound healing and colony formation. Furthermore, WeNFW significantly induced apoptosis through the proteolytic cleavage of caspase-3 and -9, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, and downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax in FaDu cells, as determined by DAPI staining, FACS analysis, and western blot analysis. Taken together, these results suggest that WeNFW exhibits potent anti-cancer effects by suppressing the growth of oral cancer cells, wound healing and colony formation activity. Via mitrochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, WeNFW can provide a natural chemotherapeutic drug for oral cancer in humans.

Influence of Professional Self-concept and Self-leadership on Clinical Competence in Nursing Students / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was done in order to identify nursing students' professional self-concept, self-leadership and clinical competence and to analyze the correlation among the variables and the factors influencing clinical competence. METHODS: The research participants were 294 senior nursing students in the nursing departments of 3 universities located in Jeollabuk-do. The students had completed 3 semesters of clinical practice. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Multiple Regression. RESULTS: Participants' scores for professional self-concept, self-leadership, clinical competence were 2.78±0.36, 3.63±0.47, 3.80±0.40 respectively. Professional self-concept, self-leadership and clinical competence had positive correlations. Factors influencing nursing students' clinical competence included professional self-concepts in professional practice, self-expectations in self-leadership, constructive thinking, self-compensation and self-criticism in that order, and these variables explained 48%of the variance in clinical competence. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, it is important to develop and apply educational programs to increase professional self-concept and self-leadership in order to improve nursing students' clinical competence.

Clinical characteristics of lung abscess in children: 15-year experience at two university hospitals / 소아과

PURPOSE: Information on the clinical features of lung abscess, which is uncommon in children, at hospitalizationis helpful to anticipate the disease course and management. There is no report concerning lung abscess in Korean children. We aimed to identify the clinical characteristics of pediatric lung abscess and compare the difference between primary and secondary abscess groups. METHODS: The medical records of 11 lung abscess patients (7 males and 4 females) from March 1998 to August 2011 at two university hospitals were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical characteristics, symptoms, underlying disease, laboratory and radiologic findings, microbiological results, and treatments were examined. RESULTS: Six patients had underlying structural-related problems (e.g., skeletal anomalies). No immunologic or hematologic problem was recorded. The mean ages of the primary and secondary groups were 2.4 and 5.3 years, respectively, but the difference was not statistically significant. The mean length of hospital stay was similar in both groups (22.8 days vs. 21.4 days). Immunologic studies were performed in 3 patients; the results were within the normal range. Most patients had prominent leukocytosis. Seven and 4 patients had right and left lung abscess, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and antimycoplasma antibodies were detected in both groups. Two patients with primary lung abscess were administered antibiotics in the absence of other procedures, while 8 underwent interventional procedures, including 5 with secondary abscess. CONCLUSION: The most common symptoms were fever and cough. All patients in the primary group were younger than 3 years. Structural problems were dominant. Most patients required interventional procedures and antibiotics.

Morbidity of Low Birth Weight Infants in Korea (2012): A Comparison with Japan and the USA

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the morbidity in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) and low birth weight infants (LBWI) in Korea and compare these data with similar data from Japan and the USA. METHODS: The analysis of morbidity in VLBWI in Korea was based on a 2012 survey of morbidity in LBWI in Korea. These findings were compared with the morbidity of VLBWI and LBWI in Japan and the USA. RESULTS: Morbidities in LBWI included jaundice (58.5%), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS; 37.0%), apnea (22.2%), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA; 22.0%), and small for gestational age (SGA; 19.2%). The research findings concerning LBWI morbidity found, high prevalence rates for neonatal jaundice, RDS, PDA, SGA, apnea, and sepsis. Compared with VLBWI morbidity of Japan and the USA, intraventricular hemorrhage, RDS, PDA, and sepsis were more prevalent in Korea, whereas bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and retinopathy of prematurity occurred at similar frequencies in all 3 countries. CONCLUSION: This study provides a recent nationwide summary of disease-specific morbidity in VLBWI and LBWI in Korea. Based on this study, future research and surveys are needed to identify the disease-specific mortality and survival rates in the field of neonatal intensive care.

A Case of Subcutaneous Fat Necrosis of the Newborn with Hypoglycemia and Meconium Aspiration Syndrome / 대한주산의학회잡지

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn is a rare, benign disease usually found in full-term infants. It occurs usually in a few weeks after birth, as one or multiple indurated nodules or plaques on the fat pads-rich fraction of the body and disappeared after few weeks to months. Complications such as hypercalcemia, pain, lipid abnormalities (dyslipidemia), renal failure, and subcutaneous atrophy may occur. We report a case of subcutaneous fat necrosis associated with hypoglycemia and meconium aspiration syndrome in the term infant and review the associated literatures.

The Lived Experience of Japanese Marriage-Immigrants' Caring for Parents-in-law with Chronic Illness / 한국간호교육학회지

PURPOSE: The study was done to explore lived experience of Japanese women taking care of chronically ill parents-in-law at home under the Korean family culture emphasizing filial piety. METHOD: van Manen's Hermeneutic Phenomenology research method was applied to conduct in-depth analysis on the meaning and nature of those experiences. This method derives the universal and fundamental aspect of human being. RESULTS: There were 8 essential themes derived from the Japanese marriage-immigrants' experiences taking care of parents-in-law with chronic diseases as followings: 'stuck in a situation in which I am obligated to take care of the parent-in-law', 'hard to be the only person responsible to take care of the parent-in-law', 'unaccustomed to the Korean filial duty culture', 'the adverse effect of Korean-Japan history on taking care of the parent-in-law', 'refusing to let the taking care of the parent-in-law to be a shackle of my life', 'starting to be willing to take care of the parent-in-law', 'following through with my own way of taking care of the parent-in-law without being swayed by what others say', 'growing in the process of taking care of the parent-in-law'. CONCLUSION: The study results broadened ground to understand the experiences taking care of chronically ill parent-in-law from Japanese marriage-immigrants' social and cultural perspectives.

Clinical Characteristics of Labyrinthine Concussion

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Inner ear symptoms like hearing loss, dizziness or tinnitus are often developed after head trauma, even in cases without inner ear destruction. This is also known as labyrinthine concussion. The purpose of this study is to determine the clinical manifestations, characteristics of audiometry and prognostic factors of these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of the 40 patients that had been diagnosed as labyrinthine concussion from 1996 to 2007. We studied the hearing levels in each frequency and classified them according to type and degree of hearing loss. Rates of hearing improvement were evaluated according to age, sex, hearing loss type, degree and presence of dizziness or tinnitus. To find out any correlation between hearing improvement and these factors, we used chi2 test or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Bilateral hearing loss was observed in 22 patients, and unilateral hearing loss in 18 patients. There were 4 (6.5%) ascending, 34 (54.8%) descending, 24 (38.7%) flat type hearing loss, which indicated hearing loss was greater in high frequencies than low frequencies. Among 62 affected ears, 20 (32.3%) gained improvement, and it was achieved mainly in low frequencies. There were only 2 ears with dizziness in 20 improved ears and among 20 dizziness accompanied ears, also only 2 ears were improved. CONCLUSIONS: High frequencies are more vulnerable to trauma than low frequencies. The hearing gain is obtained mainly in low frequencies, and association with dizziness serves poor prognosis.

Endoscopic Endonasal Reduction of Medial Blow Out Fracture Using Nasopore Forte(R) / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Before the introduction of transnasal endoscopic sinus surgery, transorbital approach with an external incision used to be one of the representative reconstructive surgical repairing method of blow out fracture. The important advantages of transnasal endoscopic technique are magnified direct visualization and easy accessibility to the medial orbital wall. Nasopore Forte(R) is a slowly absorbable material and provides excellent durability. The purpose of this study is to evaluate outcomes of endoscopic endonasal reduction (EER) of medial blow out fracture using Nasopore Forte(R). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective study was performed on 26 patients with medial blowout fracture who had undergone EER using Nasopore Forte(R) from January to December of 2010 at our clinic. A review of medical records included demographic data, preoperative ocular symptoms and signs, and surgical outcomes including postoperative symptom improvement and complications. RESULTS: Of 26 patients, 5 had persistent diplopia, 5 enophthalmos, and 3 both diplopia and enophthalmos preoperatively. Seventeen patients were asymptomatic, but had large defects with the mean defect size of 2.4 cm2. Postoperative computed tomography scan showed excellent (22) to good (4) reduction. Preoperative symptoms were resolved in all of 13 symptomatic patients and there was no enophthalmos during the follow-up period. No significant complications including sinusitis or synechia were found. CONCLUSION: EER is a highly effective and safe procedure for the reduction of medial blow out fracture. Nasopore Forte(R) is easy to handle and can be tailored to individual defects, and is useful for securing the reduction and preventing adhesion after EER.

A Case of Heterotopic Pregnancy Diagnosed by Ultrasonogram / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Heterotopic pregnancy is a condition in which ectopic and intrauterine pregnancies coexist. The reported incidence varies widely from 1 in 1000 to 1 in 30000 pregnancies. Assisted reproductive technologies have led to an increase in the number of heterotopic pregnancies. Because heterotopic pregnancy is difficult to diagnose early and it has high morbidity and mortality rate, careful pelvic examination combined with transvaginal sonogram and serial beta-HCG determinations are important. We experienced a case of heterotopic pregnancy in a natural cycle diagnosed by ultrasonogram who continued intrauterine pregnancy successfully.