Lomens-P0 (mixed extracts of Hordeum vulgare and Chrysanthemum zawadskii) regulate the expression of factors affecting premenstrual syndrome symptoms

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES@#Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a disorder characterized by repeated emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms before menstruation, and the exact cause and mechanism are uncertain. Hyperprolactinemia interferes with the normal production of estrogen and progesterone, leading to PMS symptoms. Thus, we judged that the inhibition of prolactin hypersecretion could mitigate PMS symptoms.MATERIALS/METHODS: Hordeum vulgare L. extract (HVE), Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum extract (CZE), and Lomens-P0 the mixture of these extracts were tested in subsequent experiments. The effect of extracts on prolactin secretion at the in vitro level was measured in GH3 cells. Nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory mediator expression were measured in RAW 264.7 cells to confirm the anti-inflammatory effect. Also, the hyperprolactinemic Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) mice model was used to measure extract effects on prolactin and hormone secretion and uterine inflammation. @*RESULTS@#Anti-inflammatory effects of and prolactin secretion suppress by HVE and CZE were confirmed through in vitro experiments (P < 0.05). Treatment with Lomens-P0 inhibited prolactin secretion (P < 0.05) and restored normal sex hormone secretion in the hyperprolactinemia mice model. In addition, extracts significantly inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory biomarkers, including interleukin-1β, and -6, tumor necrosis factor-α, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2 (P < 0.01). We used high-performance liquid chromatography analyses to identify tricin and chlorogenic acid as the respective components of HVE and CZE that inhibit prolactin secretion. The Lomens-P0, which includes tricin and chlorogenic acid, is expected to be effective in improving PMS symptoms in the human body. @*CONCLUSIONS@#The Lomens-P0 suppressed the prolactin secretion in hyperprolactinemia mice, normalized the sex hormone imbalance, and significantly suppressed the expression of inflammatory markers in uterine tissue. This study suggests that Lomens-P0 may have the potential to prevent or remedy materials to PMS symptoms.

Erdheim-Chester Disease Involving Lymph Nodes and Liver Clinically Mimicking Lymphoma: A Case Report

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis and multisystem disease. First described in 1930, there are no more than 750 cases reported. The etiology remains unknown, but a majority of cases of ECD and Langerhans cell histiocytosis were found to have clonal mutations involving genes of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. We recently encountered a 53-year-old male patient with extensive ECD involving the systemic lymph nodes, pleura, liver, and long bones clinically mimicking malignant lymphoma. Biopsies were performed at multiple sites, including a pleural mass, an external iliac lymph node, bone marrow, and the liver. Based on histopathological and immunohistochemical findings of positivity for CD68 and negativity for CD1a and S-100, the patient was diagnosed with ECD. Interferon-α was administered as the first-line treatment, but the patient rapidly progressed to hepatic failure after 2 months of treatment. We report this rare case of ECD clinically mimicking malignant lymphoma and diagnosed by careful pathological review.

XPD Polymorphisms and Risk of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck in a Korean Sample

OBJECTIVES: XPD is a major player in nucleotide excision repair, which is one of the basic pathways of DNA repair. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of XPD single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) in Koreans. METHODS: We performed XPD +23591G>A and +35931A>C genotyping in 290 SCCHN patients and 358 controls. RESULTS: The frequencies of the XPD +23591G>A (GG/GA/AA) genotypes were 89.0%/11.0%/0% in the patients and 90.3%/8.8%/0.9% in the controls, respectively. The odds ratio (OR) of the XPD +23591 GA genotype was 1.94 (0.92 to 4.08) in reference to the GG genotype. The frequencies of the XPD +35931A>C (AA/AC/CC) genotypes were 86.9%/12.0%/1.1% in the patients and 85.6%/13.8%/0.6% in the controls, respectively. The OR of the XPD +35931 AC and CC genotypes were 0.98 (0.51 to 1.88) and 2.68 (0.71 to 10.1), respectively, in reference to the AA genotype. On the subgroup analyses according to the smoking and drinking statuses, the SNPs and haplotypes of XPD showed no statistically significant association with the risk of SCCHN. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the XPD +23591G>A and +35931A>C SNPs are not associated with the risk of SCCHN in Koreans; however, a further study with a larger number of subjects is necessary to verify this conclusion.

Elective Neck Dissection in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The status of cervical lymph node is important factor influencing the prognosis of patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. There has been some controversy regarding the treatment of clinical N0 neck in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma, and the purpose of this study is to analyze the outcomes and efficacy of the elective neck dissection. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Authors analyzed outcomes of elective neck dissection by a retrospective study with a review of medical records of 41 oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma patients who had clinical N0 neck. RESULTS: The overall rate of occult neck metastasis was 27%, and the rate of occult metastasis beyond T2 stage was 45%. The occult metastasis rates of the primary sites in the oral tongue, floor of mouth and retromolar trigon were 26.7%, 40% and 33.3%, respectively. Three cases had bilateral occult metastasis and other three had nodal recurrence after elective neck dissection. CONCLUSION: Because there were high occult neck metastasis rate but no significant postoperative complications in using the elective neck dissection, it could be used in T2, T3 or T4 oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma with clinical N0 neck.

Factors Influencing Access to Facial Recess in Temporal Bone according to the Pneumatization of Temporal Bone-Measurement of Important Structures on Temporal Bone Computed Tomography / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Computed tomography of the temporal bone (TBCT) provides us many information about the status of temporal bone and middle ear, and is very important for surgical planning. We studied the relations of facial nerve and other structures in temporal bone and factors influencing access to facial recess according to the pneumatizaton of temporal bone. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A total 177 ears were analyzed. With the coronal section on the level just below the second genu of facial nerve, we measured the distances and angle between important surgical landmarks, and compared the data according to the mastoid pneumatization. RESULTS: The distance from sigmoid sinus to posterior wall of external auditory canal, and the distance from sigmoid sinus to line which was drawn at facial nerve parallel to posterior wall of external auditory canal were significantly influenced by temporal bone pneumatization (p<0.05). Temporal bone pnuematization gave no influence on the position of facial nerve, size of facial recess, and posterior fossa. CONCLUSION: Anterior projection of sigmoid sinus into mastoid antrum, which was influenced by pneumatization of mastoid antrum, was the most important factor influencing access to facial recess area.

Estimation of obstructive pathologies in patient with chronic otitis media: comparison between the estimated volume by impedance audiometry and radiologic findings / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Impedance audiometry is a clinically useful method for measuring the physical volume of pneumatized middle ear and mastoid medial using a hermetically sealed probe tip. This study was performed to evaluate the obstructive pathologies of middle ear and mastoid by measuring their volumes in patients of chronic otitis media. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The volume of middle ear and mastoid was measured in 37 ears with dry eardrum perforation by chronic otitis media. For control, we measured the volume in 23 ears with the traumatic tympanic membrane perforation. A comparison was made between the volumes and pneumatization in the mastoid X-ray, the soft tissue density in the computed tomography of temporal bone, and the obstruction site at operative findings. RESULTS: The mean volume of the traumatic tympanic membrane perforation was 6.75+/-0.42 ml. The mean volume of chronic otitis media was 3.36+/-2.19 ml and the volume of the sclerotic group was significantly smaller than that of the pneumatic group in the mastoid X-ray. The pathological group had significantly smaller volume than the non-pathological group at operative findings. CONCLUSIONS: The impedance audiometry enables a rapid and valuable evaluation of the presence or absence of obstructive pathologies in the middle ear and mastoid in chronic otitis media with dry tympanic perforation.