Ox-LDL suppresses PMA-induced MMP-9 expression and activity through CD36-mediated activation of PPAR-gamma

During chronic inflammatory response, mono- cytes/macrophages produce 92-kDa matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), which may contribute to their extravasation, migration and tissue remodeling. Activation of peroxisome proliferator- activated factor receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) has been shown to inhibit MMP-9 activity. To evaluate whether ox-LDL, a PPAR-gamma activator, inhibits PMA-induced MMP-9 expression and activity, and if so, whether CD36 and PPAR-gamma are involved in this process, we investigated the effect of ox-LDL on MMP-9 expression and activity in PMA-activated human monocytic cell line U937. PMA-induced MMP-9 expression and activity were suppressed by the treatment with ox-LDL (50 micrigram/ml) or PPAR-gamma activators such as troglitazone (5 micrometer), ciglitazone (5 micrometer), and 15d- PGJ2 (1 micrometer) for 24 h. This ox-LDL or PPAR-gamma activator-mediated inhibition of micrometer P-9 activity was diminished by the pre-treatment of cells with a blocking antibody to CD36, or PGF2a (0.3 micrometer), which is a PPAR-gamma inhibitor, as well as overexpression of a dominant-negative form of CD36. Taken together, these results suggest that ox-LDL suppresses PMA-induced MMP-9 expression and activity through CD36-mediated activation of PPAR-gamma.

Functional involvement of src and focal adhesion kinase in a CD99 splice variant-induced motility of human breast cancer cells

Earlier report showed that expression of a splice variant of CD99 transmembrane protein increases invasive ability of human breast cancer cells. Cell motility was also significantly enhanced by the CD99 splice variant expression. In an effort to identify the cellular components that mediate a signal transduction pathway triggered by the CD99 splice variant, known signal path inhibitors were examined for their effects on the motility of the CD99 splice variant-transfected MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Phenylarsine oxide, an inhibitor of phosphatase specific for focal adhesion kinase, and PP1, an inhibitor of src kinase family, significantly suppressed motility of the cells. Among different types of src transfectant clones generated, kinase-negative mutant src transfectant cells were 80% less motile than the mock cells transfected with an empty-vector, while v-src and c-src transfectants exhibited cell motility levels at or slightly above the mock transfectant. These results suggest that src and focal adhesion kinase mediate the intracellular signaling pathway of a CD99 splice variant for the induction of motility of human breast cancer cells.

A Clinical Review of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy / 한국간담췌외과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) was performed by Mouret in 1987 and has rapidly and radically changed the surgical treatment of gallbladder (GB) disease. The purpose of this study is to clinical and historical review of LC in the Chonbuk National University Hospital. METHODS: We reviewed 1048 patients of LC between September of 1990 to April of 2000, retrospectively by clinical record. RESULTS: The age range of the patients was from 17 to 84 years(mean: 50.3). The associated diseases were hypertension and diabetes mellitus with each 56 cases, hepatitis with 22 cases, and bronchial asthma with 10 cases in order of frequency. 98 of 1048 patients had undergone previous abdominal operation. The most frequent previous abdominal opeartions were appendectomy with 56 cases, transabdominal hysterectomy with 14 cases and Cesarean section with 13 cases in order of frequency. Urinary catheters and Nasogastric tubes have not been used as a preoperative routine preparation since May 1995. Upto 1997, we preferred 4-trocar procedure to 3-trocar procedure(628/35 cases), thereafter the proportion was reversed(48/296 cases). The mean operative time was 51.6 minutes which varied between 15 minutes to 290 minutes. Up to 1996, we preferred to use a silastic drain in the Morison's pouch (465 cases of 580 cases), thereafter postoperative drains were used in selected cases(133 cases among 468 cases). The length of hospital stay ranged from 1 day to 54 days with an average of 5.2 days. The mean time gap to first oral intake was 1.1 days. Postoperative complications were occurred in 32 patients(3.1%). 12 patients among those were explored - bile leakage: 11 cases, bleeding: 1 case, the remainders were recovered by conservative treatment. A conversion to open cholecystectomy was done in 19 patiens(1.8%) during the operation and the causes of conversion were severe fibrotic adhesion due to inflammation with 8 patients, bleeding with 4 cases and previous operation with 13 cases. Pathological findings of the specimen revealed chronic cholecystitis(786 cases), cholesterolosis(52 cases), acute cholecystitis(27 cases), GB polyp(39 cases), GB cancer(26 cases), xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis(25 cases). CONCLUSION: Operative laparoscopy has advanced surprisingly in the last 10 years. LC is increasingly used in clinical surgery because of significantly faster convalescence than occurs with open surgery. These advances have been facilitated not only by optimal use of laparoscopic instruments but also by discarding unnecessary conventional procedures such as nasogastric and urinary indwelling catheterization. One of the important task in surgical education is to teach the optimal application of instruments to facilitate the conduct of an operation. In the era of minimally invasive surgery, minimal application of instruments such as less use of trocars in appropriate sites and developing more convenient instruments and measuring the technical proficiency during laparoscopic surgery are equally important issues.

Herpes Simplex virus thymidine kinase gene therapy delivered by retroviral or adenoviral vector in mouse model of lewis lung carcinoma / 결핵

BACKGROUND: The antitumor effects of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase(HSV-tk) and ganciclovir(GCV) strategies for cancer gene therapy have a the following advantages:1) a direct cytotoxicity to HSV-tk modified cancer cells by GCV 2) a cell death by the local transfer of toxic metabolites from the HSV-tk modified cells to nearby unmodified tumor cells(bystander effect), and 3) in vivo bystander effect such as antitumor-immunity. Retroviral and adenoviral sequences can silence transgene expression in cells and mice. In this study, we investigated the above described advantages of HXV-tk/GCV strategy in Lewis lung cell and mouse lung cancer model using retroviral vector and adenoviral vector. Also, we observed whether the expression of a silenced gene can be reactivated by treating cell with butyrate. METHODS: Retrovirus-HSV-tk and adenovirus-HSV-tk vectors were used for the transduction of Lewis lung carcinoma(LLC) cells. The change of HSV-tk expression by butyrate was measured by Western blot.The antitumor activities containing bystander effect were observed in vivo(by MTT assay) and in vivo tumor models of various combinations of LLC and LLC-tk. RESULTS: 1. Butyrate induced the enhancement of HSV-tk expression from adenovirally transduced cells but not from retrovirally transduced cells. 2. Both retrovirus-HSV-tk and adenovirus-HSV-tk vectors with GCV treatment were effective for killing of tumor cell in vitro and suppression of LLC tumorigenicity. Bystander effect was responsible for killing of mixture of LLC-tk and LLC in vitro and in vivo-tumorigenicity model. CONCLUSION: Butyrate could augment adenoviral vector seems to be an effective approach for lung cancer therapy.

Foot Pressure Distribution of Normal Children

The purpose of this study was to measure the foot pressure distribution of normal children. Static and dynamic pressure, dynamic pressure-time integral, relative impulse, static pressure distribution between forefoot and heel, and the percentage of contact time in each phase of the gait cycle were measured from 68 normal children by the in-sole pressure measurement system. The measurements were perfomed while standing and walking with their comfortable speed using the in-sole pressure measurement system. The sites of the greatest static pressure, dynamic pressure-time integral and relative impulse were obtained from the 2nd and the 3rd metatarsal head areas. And the dynamic pressure was obtained from in the lateral heel area. The forefoot to heel load ratio was about 6 to 4 in the static state. The contact time was greatest during the push-off phase.

The changes in muscle strength and relaxation time after a comprehensive rehabilitation program for patients with myotonic dystrophy

Myotonic dystrophy is a muscular disorder characterized by muscle weakness and myotonia. Myotonia manifests with abnormally slow relaxation after strong voluntary contraction of the muscles. In our previous study we reported that quinine sulfate provided therapeutic benefit to myotonia and a home exercise program based on muscle strengthening exercises improved muscle strength. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a multi-therapeutic program in patients with myotonic dystrophy. For six months, seven patients with myotonic dystrophy received heat therapy, were given psychologic intervention using relaxation techniques, were trained at home, and were given quinine sulfate. The changes in muscle strength and relaxation time between the post-six-months home exercise program combined with quinine sulfate therapy, and the post-six months multi-therapeutic program, were assessed from the first dorsal interossei, the elbow flexors, and the knee extensors. The results were as follows: 1) The mean muscle strength of the each of the three muscles after the six months multi-therapeutic program was improved but was not significant compared with the post-six-months home exercise program combined with quinine sulfate therapy. 2) The mean relaxation time of each of the three muscles after the six months multi-therapeutic program was significantly reduced compared with the home exercise program combined with quinine sulfate therapy. In conclusion, the multi-therapeutic program undertaken in this study was the better program for the patients with myotonic dystrophy.