The Pentose Phosphate Pathway as a Potential Target for Cancer Therapy

During cancer progression, cancer cells are repeatedly exposed to metabolic stress conditions in a resource-limited environment which they must escape. Increasing evidence indicates the importance of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) homeostasis in the survival of cancer cells under metabolic stress conditions, such as metabolic resource limitation and therapeutic intervention. NADPH is essential for scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) mainly derived from oxidative phosphorylation required for ATP generation. Thus, metabolic reprogramming of NADPH homeostasis is an important step in cancer progression as well as in combinational therapeutic approaches. In mammalian, the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and one-carbon metabolism are major sources of NADPH production. In this review, we focus on the importance of glucose flux control towards PPP regulated by oncogenic pathways and the potential therein for metabolic targeting as a cancer therapy. We also summarize the role of Snail (Snai1), an important regulator of the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), in controlling glucose flux towards PPP and thus potentiating cancer cell survival under oxidative and metabolic stress.

A Case of Pentastomiasis at the Left Maxilla Bone in a Patient with Thyroid Cancer

Pentastomiasis, a zoonotic parasite infection, is typically found in the respiratory tract and viscera of the host, including humans. Here, we report for the first time an extremely rare case of intraosseous pentastomiasis in the human maxilla suffering from medication related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). A 55-year-old male had continuously visited the hospital for MRONJ which had primarily developed after bisphosphonate and anti-neoplastic administration for previous bone metastasis of medullary thyroid cancer. Pain, bone exposure, and pus discharge in the right mandible and left maxilla were seen. Osteolysis with maxillary cortical bone perforation at the left buccal vestibule, palate, nasal cavity, and maxillary sinus was observed by radiologic images. A biopsy was done at the left maxilla and through pathological evaluation, a parasite with features of pentastome was revealed within the necrotic bone tissue. Further history taking and laboratory evaluation was done. The parasite was suspected to be infected through maxillary open wounds caused by MRONJ. Awareness of intraosseous pentastomiasis should be emphasized not to be missed behind the MRONJ. Proper evaluation and interpretation for past medical history may lead to correct differential diagnosis and therapeutic intervention for parasite infections.

Deep benign fibrous histiocytoma in the oral cavity: a case report

Benign fibrous histiocytoma (FH) is a benign tumor composed of fibroblasts and histiocytes in varying proportions. This tumor is usually found in adult extremities but rarely occurs in deep soft tissues of the oral cavity. As it is difficult to diagnose with physical and radiologic exams, deep benign FH can only be diagnosed by histopathology. We report a case of a 36-year-old female patient who came to our department with painless swelling in the right buccal mucosa. This case report reviews the clinical, radiological, and histological aspects of this tumor.

Contralateral recurrence of necrotizing sialometaplasia of the hard palate after five months: a case report

Necrotizing sialometaplasia usually heals within 4 to 10 weeks with conservative treatment, and rarely recurs. When necrotizing sialometaplasia is present on the hard palate it may occur unilaterally or bilaterally. In this case, necrotizing ulceration occurred on the left hard palate of a 36-year-old woman after root canal treatment of the upper left first premolar under local anesthesia. After only saline irrigation the defect of the lesion completely healed and filled with soft tissue. After 5 months, however, a similar focal necrosis was found on the contralateral hard palate without any dental treatment having been performed on that side and progressed in similar fashion as the former lesion. We conducted an incisional biopsy and obtained a final pathological diagnosis for the palatal mass of necrotizing sialometaplasia. At the 3-year follow-up, the patient's oral mucosa of the hard palate was normal, without any signs and symptoms of the condition. We report a case of a second occurrence of necrotizing sialometaplasia on the contralateral side from the first, with a time lapse between the first and second occurrence.

Clear cell odontogenic carcinoma mimicking a cystic lesion: a case of misdiagnosis

Clear cell odontogenic carcinoma (CCOC) is a rare jaw tumor that was classified as a malignant tumor of odontogenic origin in 2005 by the World Health Organization because of its aggressive and destructive growth capacity and metastasis to the lungs and lymph nodes. We report a case of a 66-year-old female who had swelling, incision and drainage history and a well-defined unicystic radiolucent lesion that was comparable to a cystic lesion. At first, the patient received decompression, and the lesion size decreased. Three months after decompression, cyst enucleation was performed. The pathologic result indicated that the lesion was CCOC. In this report we emphasize that patients with painful cystic lesions in addition to jaw enlargement and loosening teeth should be considered for the possibility of malignancy.

Inducing re-epithelialization in skin wound through cultured oral mucosal keratinocytes

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the wound healing effect of primary cultured oral mucosal keratinocytes (OMKs) and to assess their roles in skin wounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: OMK labeled with BromodeoxyUridine were scattered onto 1.5x1.5 cm skin defects of adult female nude mice (OMK group, n=15). For the control, culture media were placed on the wound (control group, n=15). Mice in both groups were sacrificed at three days (n=5), one week (n=5), and two weeks (n=5), and histomorphometric and immunoblot analyses with keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1alpha antibody were performed for the biopsied wound specimen. To verify the effect of the cytokine, rhIL-1alpha was applied instead of OMK transplantation, and the OMK and control groups were compared with regard to re-epithelialization. RESULTS: Histomorphometric analyses demonstrated faster re-epithelialization in the graft group than in the control group at the third day, first week, and second week. Newly forming epithelium showed maintenance of the histological character of the skin epithelium. The graft group showed superior expression of KGF, IL-6, and IL-1alpha protein, compared with the control group. Similar faster re-epithelialization was observed after treatment with rhIL-1alpha instead of OMK transplantation. CONCLUSION: We successfully confirmed that the graft of primary cultured OMKs promoted regeneration of skin defects. The mechanism of accelerated wound healing by primary cultured OMKs was attributed to inducement of cytokine expression as required for re-epithelialization.

An atypical case of rare salivary malignancy, hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma

As an uncommon, malignant salivary gland tumor with female predominance, hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma (HCCC) is regarded as an indolent tumor. The diagnosis of this rare tumor is challenging, and it depends on microscopic and immunohistochemical (IHC) studies. Although it is regarded as an indolent tumor, there are reports of unconventional forms with aggressive clinical courses. We report an atypical case of this rare tumor, HCCC, in a male patient who had a relatively large-sized mass (3.8x3.0 cm) on the right mouth floor with ipsilateral neck node metastasis. The clinical, radiological, pathological, and IHC features together with the clinical course are described.

Primary mesenteric carcinoid tumor / 대한외과학회지

Primary mesenteric carcinoid tumor is very rare, although secondary mesenteric involvement is common, reported as 40% to 80%. And distant metastasis rate reported as 80% to 90%, when the size is larger than 2 cm. We present a case of very rare primary mesenteric carcinoid tumor showing benign character though large size. The patient visited St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea with increasing palpable abdominal mass. At laparotomy, a well encapsulated mass arising from the mesentery near the ligament of Treitz was found without any adjacent organ invasion or distant metastasis. The mass was measured as 8.2 x 7.3 cm and histopathologically benign character. At 11 months of follow up, the patient was recurrence free.

1-34 PTH Could Reverse Impaired Bone Mineralization Induced By the Overdose of Bisphosphonate

Bisphosphonates are the mainstay of osteoporosis treatment. Despite the fact that bisphosphonates have a relatively good safety record and are tolerated well by the majority of patients, serious adverse events have been associated with their use. A 41-year-old man had been diagnosed with osteoporosis and had taken etidronate 200 mg/day daily for 2 years due to the judgmental error. He was referred for the management of refractory bone pain and generalized muscle ache. Serum calcium, phosphate, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D), and immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were within normal range. Plain X-ray showed multiple fractures. Whole body bone scan confirmed multiple sites of increased bone uptakes. Tetracycline-labeled bone biopsy showed typical findings of osteomalacia. He was diagnosed with iatrogenic, etidronate-induced osteomalacia. The patient received daily parathyroid hormone (PTH) injection for 18 months. PTH effectively reverses impaired bone mineralization caused by etidronate misuse. Currently, he is doing well without bone pain. Bone mineral density significantly increased, and the increased bone uptake was almost normalized after 18 months. This case seems to suggest that human PTH (1-34) therapy, possibly in association with calcium and vitamin D, is associated with important clinical improvements in patients with impaired bone mineralization due to the side effect of bisphosphonate.

Myofibroblastic sarcoma of the mandible: a case report

Myofibroblastic sarcoma is a rare tumor that mostly develops in the soft tissues of the head and neck. Within the oral cavity, a tongue lesion is the most common. A myofibroblastic sarcoma tends to recur locally instead of metastasizing. We encountered a myofibroblastic sarcoma of the mandible of a 9-year-old male and performed mass excision and additional marginal alveolectomy. So far, there is neither recurrence nor metastasis. We report this case because of the uncommon location of this tumor type and its surgical approach compared to other forms of sarcomas.

Heterotopic Gastrointestinal Cyst of the Tongue: Case Report

Florid cemento-osseous dysplasia: a report of two cases

Cemento-osseous dysplasia occurs in the tooth bearing areas of the jaws and is probably the most common fibro-osseous manifestation. They are usually classified into three main groups according to their extent and radiographic appearance: periapical (surrounds the periapical region of teeth and are bilateral), focal (single lesion) and florid (scleroticsymmetrical masses) cemental-osseous dysplasias. Florid cemento-osseous dysplasia clearly appears to be a form of bone and cemental dysplasia that is limited to the jaws. Patients do not have laboratory or radiologic evidence of bone disease in other parts of the skeleton. For asymptomatic patients, the best management consists of regular recall examinations with prophylaxis and the reinforcement of good home hygiene care to control periodontal disease and prevent tooth loss. The treatment of symptomatic patients is more difficult. At this stage, there is an inflammatory component caused by the disease and the process is basically a chronic osteomyelitis involving dysplastic bone and cementum. Antibiotics might be suggested, but are not always effective. Two cases of florid cemento-osseous dysplasia diagnosed in two Korean females are reported with a review of the relevant literature.

Keratoameloblastoma of the maxilla: a case report

A keratoameloblastoma is a histologically variant of the ameloblastoma group, which varies in size and contains keratin material in the fibrous connective tissue among cystic lesions. A keratoameloblastoma is a rare disease with only 13 cases reported in the literature since Pindborg's first report in 1970. A 41-year-old man visited, complaining of pus discharged from the right maxilla. He had been diagnosed with an odontogenic keratocyst and was treated with cyst enucleation in the past. The clinical and radiology examination found evidence of recurrence and finally diagnosed him with keratoameloblastoma after enucleation and biopsy. This report discusses the clinical, radiological and histological characteristics of keratoameloblastoma and its treatment. In addition, we report another case of keratoameloblastoma that had transformed from an odontogenic keratocyst.

Impacts of Social Support and Life Satisfaction on Depression among International Marriage Migrant Women in Daegu and Kyungpook Area / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of international marriage migrant women living in Daegu and Kyungpook area, and to identify the impacts of social support and life satisfaction on their depression in this population. METHODS: Research objectives were accomplished by conducting an anonymous questionnaire survey with 173 international marriage migrant women. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 18.0. RESULTS: Compared to international marriage migrant women living in other areas, international marriage migrant women living in Daegu and Kyungpook area had differences in their host country, level of education and spouses' occupation. The most frequently used social support programs for participants were classes in Korean language (Hangul), Korean culture and tradition and on the National Health Insurance Service. Women who received higher levels of social support reported less depression and greater life satisfaction compared to women receiving lower levels of social support. The significant predictors of depression were social support and life satisfaction showing 27.8% of the variance in depression. CONCLUSION: Based on the research finding, the author suggests the necessity of developing social service program based on the women's characteristics and mental health needs.

Extranodal NK/T cell Lymphoma, nasal type: clinical, radiological, histological features for early diagnosis

Primary nasal type natural killer (NK)/T cell (NKTC) lymphoma, a specific form of malignant lymphoma, has a higher geographic incidence in Oriental, Mexican, and South American populations than the Western population. In Koreans, it comprises 9-12% of all cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This type of lymphoma has also been named as angiocentic lymphoma and lethal midline granuloma because the most common site is the upper airway area and its clinical aggressiveness presents with a necrotic and destructive pattern. NKTC lymphoma can also be detected in different organs (testis, spleen, parotid gland, skin, gastroinstinal tract, central nervous system, lungs, bone marrow, etc.) other than the upper airway including the oral cavity. The lymphoma detected in the oral cavity shows various destructive and inflammatory changes, similar to the signs of inflammation and infection from periodontitis and pulpal disease, making a diagnosis difficult with just the clinical signs. For early detection, clinical, radiological, and pathological examinations are required. This report describes the clinical, radiological and histological characteristics with a case report for the early detection of NKTC lymphoma in the oral cavity.

The Comparison of Functional Status and the Level of Health Care Needs in Elderly Koreans in Health Care Institutions

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare functional status and the level of health care needs in elderly Koreans in health care institutions. METHODS: Data were collected from 2,521 elderly patients admitted in 50 health care institutions (hospitals, oriental hospitals, geriatric hospitals, and health care facilities) selected through proportional stratified sampling in 2008. We used a long-term care (LTC) assessment tool developed by the government, which consists of 52 items with 5 subscales. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were detected in functional status and the level of health care needs among the subjects in different health care institutions. Of the sample population in geriatric hospitals, 48.9% were eligible for LTC Category 1, 20.9% for Category 2, and 17.2% for Category 3, and 13.1% of the subjects were not eligible for any of the categories. Of the sample population in health care facilities, 29.9% were eligible for LTC Category 1, 20.5% for Category 2, and 21.8% for Category 3, and 27.0% of the subjects were not eligible for any of the categories. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate the necessity of the development of an evaluation system that helps determine whether a subject is eligible for LTC.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition in osteogenic sarcoma of the neck following oral squamous cell carcinoma

Postirradiation extraosseous osteogenic sarcomas are uncommon in the head and neck, despite the extensive use of high-dose radiation. It has been described as de novo radiation-induced neoplasm. We present a 73-year-old male who had been treated by radiotherapy for gingival cancer 7 years earlier and later developed extraosseous osteogenic sarcomas (EOSs) of the neck. Microscopically, the neck mass was composed with mesenchymal malignant cells with cartilaginous and osteogenic differentiation. Immunohistochemical stain demonstrated strong positivity of tumor cells for Snail, the one of major epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) inducer. The E-cadherin expression was scarce, showing inverse relationship to Snail expression. Compared with previous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the gingiva, the present EOS sample revealed the remained epithelial cells on cytokeratin immunohistochemistry, suggesting the tumor arise from the cells of epithelial origin. We have also reviewed the previous 6 cases of head and neck EOSs carefully. The clinicopathologic features of the unusual lesion suggest that it is an incomplete EMT of precedent epithelial malignancy rather than de novo pathology.

Cognitive Impairment, Behavioral Problems, and Mental Health in Institutionalized Korean Elders: An Eligibility Issue for Care Settings

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of cognitive impairment, behavioral problems, and the state of mental health for elderly Korean people who have been institutionalized. METHODS: A cross-sectional, nation-wide survey was performed using an anonymous questionnaire. The participants in this study were 2,521 institutionalized elderly Korean people. A proportional stratified random sampling method was employed. RESULTS: 1) Elders admitted to subacute hospitals and long term care (LTC) facilities showed a higher level of cognitive impairment compared to elders admitted to acute care hospitals. 2) Elders confined in LTC facilities showed a higher level of behavioral problems compared to elders in acute or subacute hospitals. 3) Elders admitted to subacute hospitals and LTC facilities showed more serious mental health problems, such as depression or suicidal ideation, compared to elders in acute care hospitals. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the severity of cognitive-behavioral or mental health problems do not match well with type of care setting. Therefore, health personnel working with elderly people should be provided guidance on detection and management of cognitive-behavioral and mental health problems. The necessity of a decision support system for eligibility and placement in long-term care is also discussed.

Short-Term Outcome of Curative One-Stage Laparoscopic Resection for Obstructive Left-Sided Colon Cancers Followed by Stent Insertion: Comparative Study with Non-Obstructive Left-Sided Colon Cancers

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic surgery has been considered to be contraindicated for treating malignant colorectal obstruction. Stent insertion for obstructive colorectal cancer has recently allowed laparoscopic surgery to be performed by means of preoperative bowel decompression and bowel preparation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and the feasibility of a one-stage laparoscopic resection for obstructive left-sided colon cancer after stent insertion by comparing the results to those for non-obstructive left-sided colon cancer. METHODS: Between May 2006 and January 2009, a laparoscopic colorectal operation was performed on 18 consecutive patients with obstructive left-sided colon cancer after placement of a self-expandable stent by one colorectal surgeon, and the results were compared retrospectively to those for 43 patients with non-obstructive left-sided colon cancer who had undergone a laparoscopic procedure with the same surgeon. The collected data were the clinicopathologic characteristics, the perioperative complications, the oncologic outcomes, the postoperative recovery results, and the survival rate. RESULTS: The obstructive left-sided colon cancer group had significant benefits in retrieved lymph nodes (18.8+/-5.3 vs. 14.0+/-8.7, P=0.036), and distal resection margin (5.5+/-3.0 cm vs. 3.6+/-2.4 cm, P=0.011). There were no significant differences in other clinicopathological characteristics and oncologic outcomes, including the overall 3-yr survival rate, between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Preoperative stent decompression followed by a laparoscopic colorectal resection is a safe and feasible option for treating obstructive left-sided colon cancer. A further large-scale prospective study should be performed to evaluate the long-term outcome of a one-stage laparoscopic resection using stent insertion in cases of obstructive left-sided colon cancer.

Depression and Quality of Life in Korean Elders

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate factors associated with depression and quality of life (QoL) among the community-dwelling elderly. METHODS: This study used a descriptive correlational research design. The subjects were 730 elders aged over 65 living in D district of Daegu. Data were collected using questionnaires for 30 days in April, 2007. The research instruments utilized in this study were a physical function scale of long-term care insurance system, Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form Korea Version (GDSSF-K), and Korean Quality of Life Scale (KoQoLs). The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Duncan, stepwise multiple regression, and Spearman correlation. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 72.6, and 68.8% and 57.9% of subjects were, respectively, female and living alone. 12.3% of variance in depression was explained by age, education, economic status, subjective health, alcohol consumption, condition of teeth, and fall experience. 18.2% of variance in QoL was explained by economic status, number of diseases, condition of teeth, incontinence, paralysis, and IADL. Economic status and condition of teeth were contributing factors to depression and QoL of the elderly. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study may be useful in understanding the health status of the community-dwelling elderly and developing more regionally specific health promotion strategies.