Reactive oxygen species-dependent apoptosis induction by water extract of Citrus unshiu peel in MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Although several recent studies have reported the anti-cancer effects of extracts or components of Citrus unshiu peel, which has been used for various purposes in traditional medicine, the molecular mechanisms for their effects remain unclear. In the present study, the anti-cancer activity of a water-soluble extract of C. unshiu peel (WECU) in MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma cells at the level of apoptosis induction was investigated. MATERIALS/METHODS: Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the MTT assay. Apoptosis was detected using DAPI staining and flow cytometry analyses. Mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, caspase activity and Western blotting were used to confirm the basis of apoptosis. RESULTS: The results indicated that WECU-induced apoptosis was related to the activation of caspase-8, and -9, representative initiator caspases of extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways, respectively, and caspase-3 accompanied by proteolytic degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and down-regulation of the inhibitors of apoptosis protein family members. WECU also increased the pro-apoptotic BAX to anti-apoptotic BCL-2 ratio, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome c release from mitochondria to cytoplasm. Furthermore, WECU provoked the generation of ROS, but the reduction of cell viability and induction of apoptosis by WECU were prevented when ROS production was blocked by antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that WECU suppressed proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells by activating extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways in a ROS-dependent manner.

Negative Pressure Pulmonary Edema Together with Pneumopericardium after General Anesthesia / 대한내과학회지

Negative pressure pulmonary edema is an uncommon complication related to general anesthesia. Its main pathophysiology is excessive negative intrathoracic pressure that is caused by an acute upper airway obstruction. Pneumopericardium, the presence of air within the pericardial sac, is another rare condition. The common pathophysiology of pneumopericardium, except for that caused by blunt or penetrating trauma, is barotrauma-induced alveolar rupture caused by positive intrathoracic pressure. Here, we report the case of a 61-year old female patient with negative pulmonary edema and pneumopericardium after general anesthesia. She recovered after conservative management.

A Study of Complications Related to Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a widely used method for providing nutritional support for patients who require prolonged tubal feeding. As survival times of PEG inserted patients increase, PEG related complications are also increasing. For this reason, we decided to review complications related to PEG. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records was conducted for patients who received PEG placement between January 2004 and March 2013 in our hospital. Of the total 331 cases of PEG placement, 131 cases of PEG exchanges were excluded and a total of 200 cases were included in our review. We reviewed the baseline characteristics of all PEG inserted patients and complications related to PEG insertion. RESULTS: Complications related to PEG developed in 45 of 200 patients (22.5%). Peristomal infection occurred in 22 patients (11.0%) and buried bumper syndrome occurred in 10 patients (5.0%). Other complications that occurred in 13 patients were hemorrhage (3.0%), leakage (1.0%), aspiration pneumonia (1.0%), ileus (0.5%), necrotizing fasciitis (0.5%) and gastro-colo-cutaneous fistula (0.5%). The characteristics according to age, gender, procedure place and underlying disease were not different between the complication group and non complication group. The onset time to complication was significantly different between the buried bumper syndrome group and the other complication groups (P=0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Peristomal infection was the most common complication of PEG in our hospital. Late peristomal infection and buried bumper syndrome occurred more often than previous studies. Buried bumper syndrome was more likely to occur in later time compared with the other complications.

A Case of Acroosteolysis in Primary Hypertrophic Osteoarthropathy

Primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy or pachydermoperiostosis is a rare hereditary disorder characterized by digital clubbing, pachydermia and periostosis. Its precise incidence and prevalence is still unknown due to the lack of controlled data. It occurs without any underlying causes and usually has a chronic course. Life expectancy may be of normal standards, but many patients develop multiple functional and cosmetic complications. So, it is important to diagnose this disease at an early stage and to treat the symptomat for the quality of life. We report a case of primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy in a 68-year-old male with clinical features such as digital clubbing and pachydermia, radiographic findings of acroosteolysis and periosteal new bone formation.

Hypothermic Carotid Arterial Flush for Induction of Selective Cerebral Hypothermia during Cardiac Arrest

PURPOSE: Hypothermia has been demonstrated to protect the brain from reperfusion injury in patients suffering from cardiac arrest. We hypothesized that infusion of normal saline at 4 degrees C into the carotid artery (hypothermic carotid arterial flush, HCAF) during cardiac arrest would achieve selective cerebral hypothermia during cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), without a detrimental effect on the rate of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) or significant impairment of cardiopulmonary function after ROSC. METHODS: Ventricular fibrillation was induced in 18 dogs weighing 12~18 kg, and circulatory arrest was maintained for 9 minutes. The subjects were then resuscitated using open cardiac massage. Group I (n=6) received no normal saline, while the dogs of group II (n=6) and group III (n=6) received infusions of 15 ml/kg and 30 ml/kg of normal saline solution, respectively, at 4 degrees C into both carotid arteries (cephalad) via 18 gauge catheters. RESULTS: Tympanic temperature decreased from 37.7 (37.5~37.7) degrees C to 34 degrees C within 1.2 (1~2) min and 1.0 (1~2) min from the start of HCAF in groups II and III, respectively. Thereafter, tympanic temperatures were maintained below 34 degrees C to 7.7 (1.5~14.5) min and 21.2 (12~37) min, respectively, from the start of HCAF in groups II and III. There were no significant differences in CPR-related variables or post-ROSC hemodynamic and laboratory variables between the two groups. CONCLUSION: HCAF rapidly induces selective cerebral hypothermia without detrimental effects on the rate of ROSC or significant impairment of cardiopulmonary function after ROSC.

The Usefulness of Blood Culture in Febrile Immunocompetent Patients at Emergency Department

PURPOSE: This study was performed to determine the usefulness of blood culture in the management of febrile immunocompetent patients presenting emergency department. METHODS: We prospectively analysed the medical characteristic and the result of blood culture of febrile immunocompetent patients who presented to Chonnam National University Hospital emergency center form April 2005 to October 2005. RESULTS: The study included 182 patients. The characteristic associated with the positive result of blood culture on multivariate analysis was the low initial level of albumin. Of the 182 culture, only 26 were true positive(14.3%). Of them, the result of blood culture influenced management in five patients (2.7%). CONCLUSION: The blood cultures has usually been ordered in febrile immunocompetent patients at emergency department has the limited usefulness. The emergency physician who initially treats them has to consider this limitation of it.

Clinical Significance of Prolonged QTc Dispersion in Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage

PURPOSE: QTc dispersion is a quantitative measure of myocardial repolarization and is a new important prognostic factor for many diseases. We have analyzed the admission ECGs of 53 patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) for QTc dispersion. This study was performed to investigate the value of QTc dispersion as a prognostic factor in ICH patients. METHODS: ECGs done within 24 hours from attack onset were analyzed for abnormalities and QTc. The QTc dispersion is the QT duration of the longest minus the shortest rate-corrected QT interval. We studied the differences in QTc dispersions on the initial ECGs in the ED between a favorable group and an unfavorable group. RESULTS: We found that patients had less chance for a good recovery if they had a lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on admission, a larger volume hematoma, a prolonged QTc dispersion, or a longer maximal QTc interval of the 53 patients with ICH, 16 (30.2%) patients demonstrated ECG abnormalities. The QTc dispersion was extremely prolonged in both groups. The favorable group included patients with a mean QTc dispersion=70.6 ms, whereas the unfavorable group included patients with a QTc dispersion= 117.6 ms. CONCLUSION: A prolonged QTc dispersion and a lower GCS score were significant predictors of a poor prognosis for spontaneous ICH patients. An increased QTc dispersion on the initial ECG is an important prognostic factor for ICH patients. More attention should be given to the disposition and intensive care of such patients.

Clinical Analysis of CPR in Infants with Out-of-Hospital Cardiopulmonary Arrest

PURPOSE: Since 1960 pediatric advanced life support (PALS) has been studied and applied to clinical situations, ILCOR guidelines 2000 for CPR and ECC was achieved. Pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest differs from adult arrest in etiologies, mechanisms, and managements. This study was performed to identify the clinical manifestations and real picutre of CPR to recognize the need of standard CPR method that increases the survival in infants with out-of hospital arrest. METHODS: This study was planned by retrospectively reviewed the records of all children who arrived without spontaneous respiration and palpable pulse at the emergency room of the three Hospitals from January 1996 to July 2003. RESULTS: During that period, 45 infants presented with out of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest. Overall, there was a return of vital signs in 15 of the 45 patients; 6 survived to discharge from hospital. 1. Out-of-hospital arrest in infants demonstrated that 60% were male, mean age was 133.4 days. Of these, 71.1% of the arrests occurred in the home with family members presents, those family members didn't perform basic CPR in only 1 case. 2. In any ROSC group, the interval between the arrest and arrival at the hospital was 14.4 minutes. In ROSC never achieved group, the interval was 32.0 minutes. 3. Two of the 15 patients with SIDS(13.3%) and four of the 13 patients with respiratory arrest(30.8%) survived to hospital discharge. CONCLUSION: Factors that predicted survival to discharged alive included a death caused by respiratory disease, a short interval between the arrest and arrival at the hospital, and a short duration of resuscitation efforts in the ER. We found that need of standard guideline and commonly applied CPR techniques.