Erratum: Cholesterol conjugated spermine as a delivery modality of antisense oligonucleotide

In page 155, Yoon Kyung Imshould be changed as Yun Kyong Lim.

Electrocautery-Ignited Surgical Field Fire Caused by a High Oxygen Level during Tracheostomy

Tracheostomy is a relatively common surgical procedure that is performed easily in an operating room or intensive care unit. Open tracheostomy is needed in patients requiring prolonged ventilation when percutaneous tracheostomy is inappropriate. Sometimes, it is difficult to achieve bleeding control in the peritracheal soft tissue, and in such cases, we usually use diathermy. However, the possibility of an electrocautery-ignited surgical field fire can be overlooked during the procedure. This case report serves as a reminder that the risk of a surgical field fire during tracheostomy is real, particularly in patients requiring high-oxygen therapy.

Cholesterol conjugated spermine as a delivery modality of antisense oligonucleotide

The major issue in the development of nucleic acid based therapeutics is the inefficient delivery of these agents into cells. We prepared cholesterol conjugated spermine and evaluated its usefulness as a delivery modality for antisense oligonucleotides in HeLa-Luc cells. A 2'-O-methyl antisense oligonucleotide sequence, designed to correct splicing at an aberrant intron inserted into a normal luciferase reporter gene, was used for complex formation with cholesterol conjugated spermine. Effective delivery of this antisense agent into nucleus would results in the expression of a luciferasereporter gene product. The cholesterol-spermine formed stable complexes with the antisense oligonucleotide and showed modest delivery activity. Furthermore, this delivery activity was maintained even in the presence of serum proteins, mimicking in vivo conditions. Cholesterol-spermine thus has potential as a delivery system for antisense oligonucleotides into cells.

Capsaicin-Induced Apoptosis of FaDu Human Pharyngeal Squamous Carcinoma Cells

PURPOSE: To investigate the anti-tumor effect of capsaicin on human pharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells (FaDu). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of apoptosis/cell cycle-related proteins (or genes) was examined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and ELISA methods, while the apoptotic cell population, cell morphology and DNA fragmentation levels were assessed using flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy and agarose gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: Capsaicin was found to inhibit the growth and proliferation of FaDu cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Apoptotic cell death was confirmed by observing increases in nuclear condensation, nuclear DNA fragmentation and sub-G1 DNA content. The observed increase in cytosolic cytochrome c, activation of caspase 3 and PARP (p85) levels following capsaicin treatment indicated that the apoptotic response was mitochondrial pathway-dependent. Gene/protein expression analysis of Bcl-2, Bad and Bax further revealed decreased anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein and increased pro-apoptotic Bad/Bax expression. Furthermore, capsaicin suppressed the cell cycle progression at the G1/S phase in FaDu cells by decreasing the expression of the regulators of cyclin B1 and D1, as well as cyclin-dependent protein kinases cdk-1, cdk-2 and cdk-4. CONCLUSION: Our current data show that capsaicin induces apoptosis in FaDu cells and this response is associated with mitochondrial pathways, possibly by mediating cell cycle arrest at G1/S.

Two Cases of Bacteremia Caused by Vibrio Parahemolyticus in Liver Cirrhosis / 감염과화학요법

We have experienced two cases of bacteremia in liver cirrhosis patients caused by Vibrio parahemolyticus. One presented with acute gastroenteritidis symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea. Vibrio parahemolyticus was cultured in the blood. In the other patients showed vesicular rash in lower extremities with a positive blood culture. Both patients had been treated with intravenous fluid and antibiotics.

A Case of Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis with Pelvic Bone and Paravertebral Abscess / 감염과화학요법

Coccidioidomycosis results from inhaling the spores (arthroconidia) of Coccidioides species (Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii), and is endemic in the southern United States. An even smaller proportion of all infections result in illnesses related to extrapulmonary infection. We report a case of coccidioidomycosis manifested as pelvic bone and paravertebral abscess in a Korean who has visited LA. Culture and pathology from the pelvic bone and paravertebral mass revealed Coccidioides immitis, and a diagnosis of disseminated coccidioidomycosis was made.

Two Cases of Bacteremia Caused by Vibrio Parahemolyticus in Liver Cirrhosis / 감염과화학요법

We have experienced two cases of bacteremia in liver cirrhosis patients caused by Vibrio parahemolyticus. One presented with acute gastroenteritidis symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea. Vibrio parahemolyticus was cultured in the blood. In the other patients showed vesicular rash in lower extremities with a positive blood culture. Both patients had been treated with intravenous fluid and antibiotics.

A Case of Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis with Pelvic Bone and Paravertebral Abscess / 감염과화학요법

Coccidioidomycosis results from inhaling the spores (arthroconidia) of Coccidioides species (Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii), and is endemic in the southern United States. An even smaller proportion of all infections result in illnesses related to extrapulmonary infection. We report a case of coccidioidomycosis manifested as pelvic bone and paravertebral abscess in a Korean who has visited LA. Culture and pathology from the pelvic bone and paravertebral mass revealed Coccidioides immitis, and a diagnosis of disseminated coccidioidomycosis was made.

Incidence of coronary anomaly in coronary angiography / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Coronary anomalies are found incidentally, in which anatomy is altered but physiology is normal; that is, coronary blood flow is normal. However, certain anomalies are associated with myocardial ischemia or infarction, heart failure, and sudden death. METHODS: From February 1988 to February 2000, 3534 cases have been catheterized, among them we experienced 28 cases of coronary anomalies. The incidence of coronary anonalies and clinical characteristic were evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence of coronary anomalies was 0.79% and in 28 cases of coronary anomalies, 5 cases of anomalous origin from the aorta (0.14%), 2 cases of coronary artery aneurysm (0.16%) and 21 cases of coronary arteriovenous fistula (CAVF,0.59%) were found. In 5 cases of anomalous origin from the aorta, 4 cases showed that right coronary artery originated from left coronary sinus of Valsalva, 1 case showed that left circumflex coronary artery originated from right coronary sinus of Valsalva. All of coronary artery aneurysm were found in right coronary artery. In 21 cases of CAVF, 28 sites of fistula were found and 14 sites originated from right coronary artery (50%), 6 sites from left circumflex coronary altery (21.5%), 6 sites from left anterior-descending coronary artery, 2 sites from left main coronary artery (7%). 13 sites of CAVF drained into pulmonary artery (46%), 10 sites into right atrium (36%), 5 sites into right ventricle (18%). In 7 cases which had double CAVF, 4 cases were originated from bilateral coronary artery, 3 cases were originated from single coronary artery. In 10 cases CAVF without other cardiac lesion, 4 cases confirmed ischemic heart disease. CONCLUSION: In our study, CAVF is most common coronary anomaly and without other cardiac disease CAVF may develope ischemic cardiac disease.

Incidence of coronary anomaly in coronary angiography / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Coronary anomalies are found incidentally, in which anatomy is altered but physiology is normal; that is, coronary blood flow is normal. However, certain anomalies are associated with myocardial ischemia or infarction, heart failure, and sudden death. METHODS: From February 1988 to February 2000, 3534 cases have been catheterized, among them we experienced 28 cases of coronary anomalies. The incidence of coronary anonalies and clinical characteristic were evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence of coronary anomalies was 0.79% and in 28 cases of coronary anomalies, 5 cases of anomalous origin from the aorta (0.14%), 2 cases of coronary artery aneurysm (0.16%) and 21 cases of coronary arteriovenous fistula (CAVF,0.59%) were found. In 5 cases of anomalous origin from the aorta, 4 cases showed that right coronary artery originated from left coronary sinus of Valsalva, 1 case showed that left circumflex coronary artery originated from right coronary sinus of Valsalva. All of coronary artery aneurysm were found in right coronary artery. In 21 cases of CAVF, 28 sites of fistula were found and 14 sites originated from right coronary artery (50%), 6 sites from left circumflex coronary altery (21.5%), 6 sites from left anterior-descending coronary artery, 2 sites from left main coronary artery (7%). 13 sites of CAVF drained into pulmonary artery (46%), 10 sites into right atrium (36%), 5 sites into right ventricle (18%). In 7 cases which had double CAVF, 4 cases were originated from bilateral coronary artery, 3 cases were originated from single coronary artery. In 10 cases CAVF without other cardiac lesion, 4 cases confirmed ischemic heart disease. CONCLUSION: In our study, CAVF is most common coronary anomaly and without other cardiac disease CAVF may develope ischemic cardiac disease.

The variation of thiodiglycolic acid concentration in urine with vinyl chloride exposure levels in rats / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: It is the objective of this research to identify the variation of thiodiglycolic acid (TdGA) in urine with vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) exposure levels through methylation. METHODS: After rats were exposed to vinyl chloride monomer of 4 levels, 0 mg/m3, 50 mg /m3, 150 mg/m3, 500 mg/m3, respectively, of which urine was sampled in each sampling time of 0 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 16 hours, 24 hours, 36 hours, 48 hours. After urine had been methylated with diazomethane in the preliminary experiment and the peak of 146 m/z had been verified, the main experiment was done. RESULTS: In the variation of TdGA with sampling times, concentration of TdGA increased rapidly in 4 hours and then decreased after 8 hours. When the variation of urinary .TdGA concentration in urine according to exposure level of VCM was verified through Kruskal-Wallis statistical method at each sampling time, the significant increment with the exposure levels at 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours after exposure was clarified. CONCLUSION: TdGA concentration in urine with increment of VCM exposure level increased, especially significantly at 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours of sampling time.