Latex of Ficus carica L. Induces Apoptosis Through Caspase and Bcl-2 Family in FaDu Human Hypopharynx Squamous Carcinoma Cells

Ficus carica L. (common fig), one of the first plants cultivated by humans, originated in the Mediterranean basin and currently grows worldwide, including southwest Asia and South Korea. It has been used as a traditional medicine for treatment of metabolic, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases as well as hemorrhoids and skin infections. Its pharmacological properties have recently been studied in detail, but research on the anti-cancer effect of its latex has been only been studied on a limited basis on several cell lines, such prostate cancer, breast cancer, and leukemia. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity of the latex of Ficus carica L.and its underlying mechanism in FaDu human hypopharynx squamous carcinoma cells. (See Ed. note above) We confirmed through SDS-PAGE analysis and gelatinolytic activity analysis that the latex of Ficus carica contains cysteine protease ficin. Our data showed that the latex inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the latex treatment markedly induced apoptosis in FaDu cells as determined by FACS analysis, elevated expression level of cleaved caspase-9, -3 and PARP (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase), and. increased the expression of Bax (pro-apoptotic factor) while decreasing the expression of Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic factor). Taken together, these results suggested that latex containing the ficin inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis by caspase and the Bcl-2 family signaling pathway in FaDu human hypopharynx squamous carcinoma cells. These findings point to the potential of latex of Ficus carica to provide a novel chemotherapeutic drug due to its growth inhibition effects and induction of apoptosis in human oral cancer cells.

A variant of complete septate uterus with double cervix and vagina: A case report / 대한산부인과학회지

Rare mullerian anomalies without any present classification were sometimes reported. A 30-year-old nulligravid woman was referred to our hospital with 2-year history of primary infertility. Laparoscopic examination revealed a relatively intact uterine fundus with both patent fallopian tubes. Hysteroscopic exam confirmed the presence of double vagina and cervix, as well as complete uterine septum with opening at the lower segment. Hysteroscopic septotomy was successfully performed through the right-sided cervix. A variant of complete septate uterus with double cervix that communicated at the isthmic portion could be successfully treated by hysteroscopic operation.

Spontaneous uterine rupture during early labor in term pregnancy after laparoscopic radiofrequency myolysis / 대한산부인과학회지

Spontaneous uterine rupture is a rare occurrence, but a catastrophic obstetric complication, associated with high rates of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Clinicians should make a prompt diagnosis and management in patients presenting with acute abdominal pain, hypovolemic shock, and fetal compromise. We present a case of spontaneous complete rupture of uterus during early labor in term pregnancy after laparoscopic radiofrequency myolysis.

Lipoleiomyosarcoma of the uterus: A case report and review / 대한산부인과학회지

Heterologous sarcomas of the uterus are rare neoplasms. We report a rare case of heterologous uterine sarcoma composed of leiomyosarcomatous and liposarcomatous components with a brief review of literature. A 53-year-old woman had vaginal spotting. The endometrial biopsy performed at a local clinic revealed a high grade spindle cell sarcoma. Pelvis magnetic resonance imaging showed about 5.4 cm sized multiseptated T1 and T2 high signal mass in a uterine fundus without lymph node metastasis or pelvic wall involvement. Total laparoscopic hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection, and peritoneal washing cytology were performed. Pathologic diagnosis was made as leiomyosarcoma with liposarcomatous differentiation (lipoleiomyosarcoma). The patient received adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy (5040 cGy). Follow up images showed no evidence of disease 8 months after surgery.

Analytic Study of the Patients Registered at Seoul National University Hospital Acne Clinic / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Acne is a common skin disorder which affects both adolescents and adults. However, there have been few Korean epidemiological studies conducted. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence, demographic factors, clinical features and aggravating factors of acne. We also investigated the relationship of these factors. METHODS: Epidemiological and clinical data was obtained by interviewing 657 acne patients, newly enrolled at Seoul National University Hospital Acne Clinic between 1996 and 2004. RESULTS: Most patients were found to have facial acne, and the forehead and cheeks were the most common sites where acne first developed. Males tended to visit the hospital because of social problems compared to females. We identified some significant correlations with sex, age of onset, disease duration, first affected site, seborrhea, and family history. Acne lesions developed earlier and disease duration was longer in the group with a family history of acne or severe seborrhea. More than 80% of patients were found to have subjective symptoms, including pain and itching which were most frequent. The degree of seborrhea was higher and the aggravation after sun exposure was more frequent in the group where complete remission of acne had not been achieved. Aggravation of acne was most frequent in summer, followed by winter. CONCLUSION: We could investigate the epidemiological and clinical features of acne patients, including the age of onset, motive of treatment, subjective symptoms, plus outcome of treatment according to remission history of acne, as these factors have never been reported in the Korean literature before.

The Relation of Pulse Pressure to Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF)-1

BACKGROUND: Pulse pressure, a clinical marker of arterial stiffness, is an independent and strong predictor of cardiovascular disease, and reflects aging of arterial system. It is a well known fact that serum IGF-1 level is a parameter of growth hormone (GH) secretion and decreased GH secretion is related to aging. The aim of this study was to find out if there was any correlation between pulse pressure and IGF-1 concentration. METHODS: By reviewing the medical records of a hospital in Korea, healthy 194 men and 180 women were studied. We measured serum IGF-1, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol concentrations and fasting blood sugar (FBS). Also, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were performed. RESULTS: In men, the pulse pressure was positively correlated with age (r=0.29, P<0.001), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (r=0.70, P<0.001), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r=0.22, P=0.003), and body mass index (BMI) (r= 0.28, P<0.001) and inversely with IGF-1 levels (r=-0.27, P<0.001). In women, pulse pressure was positively levels with SBP (r=0.28, P<0.001), BMI (r=0.27, P<0.001), triglyceride (r=0.19, p=0.011), total cholesterol (r=0.15, P=0.049) levels, and FBS (r=0.17, P=0.027) and was not correlated with age, DBP, and serum IGF-1 levels. After adjustment for age, BMI, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and FBS, the pulse pressure was independently negatively correlated with serum IGF-1 levels (beta=-6.052, P=0.007) in men. The multiple regression analysis showed that serum IGF-1 levels (R2=0.04) was the third most powerful factor influencing the pulse pressure. CONCLUSION: There was as independent negative correlation between the pulse pressure and serum IGF-1 levels in healthy men.

Reconstruction of Surgical Lip Defects after Malignant Tumor Excision / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: The lips have an asethetic and functional importance. There are various types of lip defects, and these are mainly due to tumor excision. Although there are numerous techniques available to repair the lips, no universal reconstruction method is presently available, and reconstruction of lip defects are inherently difficult. OBJECTIVE: To report surgical reconstruction results of lip defects. METHOD: Our study involved eleven patients, who had visited our dermatologic surgery clinic between 1995 and 2003, and had been histopathologically diagnosed as having either a basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma on the lips. The medical records were reviewed, and clinical features, surgical methods, and cosmetic and functional results were evaluated. RESULTS: Wedge resection, resection with W-plasty, the subcutaneous pedicle flap, and dual mucosal flap technique were used to repair lip defects surgically. The vermilion border was aligned well in all the patients, and a post-operative scar was not apparent. However, a microstomia developed in one patient. CONCLUSION: The dermatologic surgeon should be familiar with various reconstruction options for lip defects. An appropriate choice depends on the size, location and depth of the defect. Specific functional and aesthetic aspects of the lips should be taken into account when planning and performing an operation.

A Case of Cholesterol Embolism / 대한피부과학회지

The occlusion of arterioles by cholesterol microcrystals and subsequent ischemic change give rise to so called "cholesterol embolism". Usually cholesterol emboli are released from atheromatous plaque in great arteries by various provoking factors-by direct physical impacts during the cardiovascular interventions, such as CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) and CAG (coronary angiography), and by intricate biologic processes which weakens fibrous cap of atheromatous plaque, such as thrombolytic and anticoagulant therapy. Herein we report cholesterol embolism occurred in a 71-year old man who has underlying atherosclerosis after cardiovascular surgery and follow-up angiography, and concomitant anticoagulant therapy.

The Epidemiological Study of Skin Aging in a High Temperature Environment / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Forty percent of solar irradiation arriving on the ground surface is infrared rays (IR). However, these have received little attention. Chronic experimental exposure to IR has been found to cause degenerative changes to dermal connective tissue and an accumulation of ground substances, which is similar to changes which occur by photoaging. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of persistent heat exposure on the cutaneous aging symptoms such as wrinkles, dyspigmentation and telangiectasia. METHODS: A total of 306 male volunteers, aged between 26-68 years, were recruited from steel factories with a torrid working environment. Each volunteer was interviewed for demographic information, cumulative sunlight exposure levels and their smoking history. Skin examination and measurement of erythema/pigmentation levels were also performed on the crow's feet area of the face and/or the upper inner arm. RESULTS: 1. The group of males, aged 50years or over, who had been exposed to high temperatures for more than 10years showed a tendency to have severer wrinkles (5.1+/-1.5) than an age-matched control group (3.7+/-0.1). 2. There was no correlation between dyspigmentation and heat exposure. 3. Erythema indices decreased and were found to be dependent on the duration of heat exposure to the face in the group of males over 40years of age, and to the upper inner arm in the group of males over 50years of age. CONCLUSION: Chronic heat exposure might contribute to the development of skin wrinkles and shows the possibility of potentiation of extreme ultraviolet effects.

Cheilitis Granulomatosa Treated with Metronidazole / 대한피부과학회지

Cheilitis granulomatosa, a rare disorder of unknown origin, is characterized by recurrent and persistent labial swelling. It is a monosymptomatic form of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome. Non-necrotizing granulomatous inflammation is seen at histopathologic examination. We report a 44-year-old woman with a month history of gradual swelling on her upper lip. We treated successfully with oral metronidazole medication for 6 months, although she had showed a poor response in oral prednisolone, antibiotics, several intralesional triamcinolone injection therapy.

Effects of Skin Temperature on UV-induced Erythema and pigmentation in Human Skin in Vivo / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Skin temperature at UV radiation exposure influences acute skin reaction such as erythema and pigmentation. As most biochemical systems are affected by temperature, thermal change preceding or following UV exposure could influence the responses in the way to cause vascular blood flow and change the inflammatory response OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of thermal change on UV-induced erythema and pigmentation by using objective and quantitative method METHODS: A sunlight fluorescent sunlamp (Waldmann UV 800) was used as a UV light source. Multiple sites of the lower back were irradiated with an increasing doses of UV, which were preceded or followed by heating or cooling. With a reflectance spectrophotometer, we assessed erythema and melanin indices at control, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 MED dose-exposed sites. RESULTS: Compared with the only UV-exposed group, skin warming or cooling groups generally showed elevated acute erythema reaction with higher erythema indices. However, thermal changes preceding or following UV exposure had little effect on pigmentation except the post-warming group with UV exposure of 2 MED dose after 2 weeks. Our results indicate that altering the skin temperature modulates the degree of UV-induced erythema, but generally not skin pigmentation. CONCLUSION: The results in this study show that environmental factors such as heat or cooling have modulating effects on UV-induced skin reaction. These interactions should be considered when dealing with the effects of natural sun exposure or phototherapy.

Relationship of Maternal Perception of the Infant Temperament and Confidence and Satisfaction of Maternal Role / 아동간호학회지

PURPOSE: this study was intended to search the relationship between perception of the infant temperament in mother of infant at the age of 1~12 months and maternal confidence and satisfaction in performing maternal role, and to submit a basic data to establish a nursing intervention program which is helpful for determination of infant development and performing maternal role promotion by identify variables associated with infant temperament. METHOD: The subjects of this study were 300 mothers of infant at the age of 1~12 months who visited well baby clinic in 4 hospitals in Busan city and Kyoung-Nam province. Final analysis was performed in 293 cases. Seven cases was excluded in this study because of its inappropriate data collection. The data was collected from 1st July to 15th August 2002. The questionaries which were fill-up by mother were collected. Infant temperament was measured by using the tool of "what my baby is like"(WBL) which was developed by Priham et. al.(1994) and translated by Bang(1999). The scale of postpartum self evaluation which was developed by Lederman et al(1981) and translated by Lee(1992) was used for the confidence and satisfaction of maternal role. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS-PC for window, version 10.0: frequency, percentage, minimum, maximum, mean, SD, t-test, ANOVA, Post-hoc test(Scheffe's test), Pearson Correlation Coefficients. RESULT: The mean score of maternal perception of the infant temperament was 6.17 +/-1.04, and mother recognized her infant as positive. The mean score of confidence of maternal role was 2.89+/-.41 and this revealed in an average level. The mean score of satisfaction of maternal role was 3.29+/-.51 and this revealed in a higher level. There was a weak significant positive correlation between the score of maternal perception of infant temperament and confidence of maternal role(r=0.176, P= .003), but there was no significant correlation between satisfaction of maternal role(P > .05). It revealed the more maternal perception of the infant temperament as positive, the higher confidence of maternal role. There was a moderate significant positive correlation between confidence of maternal role and satisfaction of maternal role(r=0.410, P= .000). It revealed the more confidence of maternal role, the higher satisfaction of maternal role. The variables related with the score of maternal perception of infant temperament were the type of delivery (t=-2.600, P= .010), experience of learning baby care(t=2.382, P= .018), maternal perception on baby's health status(F=3.467, P= .033), maternal perception on her health status(F=3.467, P= .027), baby's age(F=3.080, P= .028). CONCLUSION: Our result showed the confidence of maternal role was increased as the maternal perception of infant temperament was positive, and conformed that the confidence of maternal role was also related with satisfaction of maternal role. Prenatal education, type of delivery, baby's age were also related with the maternal perception of infant temperament. So, nursing intervention program of developmental stage maybe necessary in order to help maternal perception of infant temperament as positive, and it will be increased the confidence of maternal role and satisfaction of performing maternal role which was considered as real indicate of achievement of maternal role.

A Case of Chondroid Syringoma with Marked Ossification / 대한피부과학회지

Chondroid syringoma is a sweat gland tumor that is composed of a mixture of epithelial cells and mesenchymal tissue. It is most frequently located on the head and neck. Chondroid syringoma is a firm intradermal or subcutaneous nodule. Histologically, the epithelial component consists of tubulocystic structures and aggregates of epithelial cells as well as single scattered epithelial cells throughout the stroma. It rarely contains osteoid stroma, and there are only a few reports of cases associated with ossification. We describe here an unusual chondroid syringoma associated with marked ossification.

Analysis of platelet yield and leukocyte contamination in plateletpheresis by CS 3000 plus / 대한임상병리학회지

No abstract available.