Effects of selenium on the survival and invasion of trophoblasts / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: Placental oxidative stress is known to be a factor that contributes to pregnancy failure. The aim of this study was to determine whether selenium could induce antioxidant gene expression and regulate invasive activity and mitochondrial activity in trophoblasts, which are a major cell type of the placenta. METHODS: To understand the effects of selenium on trophoblast cells exposed to hypoxia, the viability and invasive activity of trophoblasts were analyzed. The expression of antioxidant enzymes was assessed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. In addition, the effects of selenium treatment on mitochondrial activity were evaluated in terms of adenosine triphosphate production, mitochondrial membrane potential, and reactive oxygen species levels. RESULTS: Selenium showed positive effects on the viability and migration activity of trophoblast cells when exposed to hypoxia. Interestingly, the increased heme oxygenase 1 expression under hypoxic conditions was decreased by selenium treatment, whereas superoxide dismutase expression was increased in trophoblast cells by selenium treatment for 72 hours, regardless of hypoxia. Selenium-treated trophoblast cells showed increased mitochondrial membrane potential and decreased reactive oxygen species levels under hypoxic conditions for 72 hours. CONCLUSION: These results will be used as basic data for understanding the mechanism of how trophoblast cells respond to oxidative stress and how selenium promotes the upregulation of related genes and improves the survival rate and invasive ability of trophoblasts through regulating mitochondrial activity. These results suggest that selenium may be used in reproductive medicine for purposes including infertility treatment.

Safety and Efficacy of Anti-dementia Agents in the Extremely Elderly Patients with Dementia

BACKGROUND: There are debates on representation and generalizability of previous randomized controlled trials about anti-dementia agents in the oldest old population. In this context, we aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of anti-dementia agents in the very elderly patients with dementia. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of patients with dementia 1) who were 85 years or older, 2) got started anti-dementia agents, and 3) went through follow-up evaluation about one year thereafter. As a control, patients with dementia who were less than 85 years old with similar inclusion criteria were randomly selected during the same period. The adverse drug effects and discontinuation rates were investigated with self-reported complaint after starting or increasing anti-dementia drugs. For efficacy outcome, we also analyzed the change in neuropsychological results during follow-up period. RESULTS: A total of 77 dementia patients who were at least 85 years were enrolled. As a control group, 78 patients with dementia who were younger than 85 was analyzed. The adverse drug effects were observed in 26 (33.3%) patients in the younger old and in 26 (33.8%) in the oldest old (P = 0.095). Twenty-one patients (26.9%) in the younger old group and 13 patients (16.9%) in the oldest old group discontinued their medication (P = 0.131). There were no differences between the two groups about changes of Mini-Mental State Examination and Instrumental Activity of Daily Living scores over time. CONCLUSION: The use of anti-dementia agents in the oldest old dementia patients may be safe and effective as the younger old dementia patients.

Small Bowel Perforation Caused by Press-through Package / 대한소화기학회지

With an increased use of the press-through package (PTP) tablet, there has also been an increase in mis-swallowing cases, especially in elderly patients. We report a rare case of PTP-induced small bowel perforation and fistula formation with adjacent small bowel in a healthy elderly patient, who experienced persistent abdominal pain of unknown cause. A 62-year-old healthy man was admitted to our hospital with left abdominal pain that started one month ago. Neither abdominal tenderness nor rebound tenderness was present on physical examination. His vital signs and all other test results were within normal limits. However, a 2.5 cm curved radiopaque material within his thickened small intestine was incidentally detected on an abdominal computed tomography. He underwent laparoscopic small bowel resection, which revealed foreign body in the distal small intestine. Edema, perforation, and adhesions with the surrounding tissues were also noticed in the distal small intestine. Foreign body was turned out to be PTP, and this was considered to be responsible for the small bowel perforation and fistula formation. Precautions regarding PTP usage are necessary to prevent inadvertent PTP ingestion and its related complications, such as perforation, especially in the elderly population.

A Case of Pleural Effusion and Pulmonary Edema Caused by Calcium Channel Blockers in a Patient of Systemic Hypertension

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are very popular drugs to lower blood pressure (BP) without significant side effects. A 72-year-old man admitted for uncontrolled hypertension. He had history of hypertension, atrial fibrillation with slow ventricular response, angina, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and stage 3 chronic kidney disease. He had taken several anti-hypertensives, such as amlodipine 5 mg, perindopril 8 mg, and indepamide 1.5 mg. To control BP, nifedipine 120 mg was added. Then pulmonary edema and pleural effusion was developed. Echocardiography showed preserved left ventricular ejection fraction and mild mitral regurgitation. Fluid restriction and high dose furosemide did not cease pleural fluid accumulation. Thus a total of 4 times of thoracentesis were done and all fluid analyses revealed transudate. We thought that pleural effusion and pulmonary edema was induced by CCBs and discontinued the drugs. He recovered quickly and finally discharged in a stable condition.

A Case of Podostroma Cornu-Damae Intoxication Induced Pancytopenia and Skin Desquamation: Successful Treatment with Granulocyte Colony Stimulation Factor (G-CFS)

Podostroma cornu-damae is a rare species of fungus belonging to the Hyocreaceae family. Its fruit body is highly toxic, as it contains trichothecene mycotoxins. The morphology is similar to that of immature Ganoderma lucidum, making identification difficult for non-experts. We experienced such a case of a 56- year-old male who picked and consumed podostroma cornu-damae, and consumed. Later that day, he developed digestive system symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. He presented to the emergency room (ER), there were no abnormal physical findings, symptoms improved after gastric lavage, and the patient voluntarily discharged himself on the same day. The following day, as the symptoms gradually deteriorated, he was admitted via the ER. He was presented with severe pancytopenia, alopecia, desquamation of skin, and acute renal failure. He recovered without any complications after conservative care, antibiotics therapy, and granulocyte colony stimulating factor administration. The most commonly reported complications of podostroma cornu-damae intoxication were reported pancytopenia, infection, disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute renal failure, etc. since Prevention is especially important because its toxicity can be lethal and there is no particular treatment to date, prevention is especially important. Promotion and education for the public are needed.

A Case of Left Atrial Free-Floating Thrombus / 계명의대학술지

A 74-year-old woman who had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation without mitral stenosis was hospitalized for syncope and right-sided weakness. Echocardiography revealed a large free-floating thrombus in the left atrium, sometimes prolapsing partially into the left ventricle in diastole. Because of her poor neurological status, she was managed with anticoagulation. On the 12th day, the thrombus had disappeared on the follow-up echocardiography, and aortoiliac embolization was later detected on computed tomography. Unfortunately, she developed various complications of stroke and limb infarction, and died after 4 months of hospital care. In addition to this case report, we reviewed a total 70 cases of left atrial free-floating thrombus. Atrial fibrillation and mitral pathology were two major causative factors. All the cases, except 1, were confirmed on echocardiography. The most common presentation that led to echocardiography was systemic embolization, followed by heart failure. Others were acute hemodynamic decompensation from mitral obstruction, chest pain, palpitation, and bacteremia. Cardiac thrombectomy was the preferred treatment modality with favorable outcomes.

Sendai F/HN Viroplexes for Efficient Transfection of Leukemic T Cells

PURPOSE: Most chemical transfection reagents are ineffective for the transfection of cells in suspension, such as leukemic cell and stem cell lineages. We developed two different types of viroplexes, cationic Sendai F/HN viroplexes (CSVs) and protamine sulfate-condensed cationic Sendai F/HN viroplexes (PCSVs) for the efficient transfection of T-leukemic cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The viroplex systems were prepared by reconstitution of fusogenic Sendai F/HN proteins in DMKE (O,O'-dimyristyl-N-lysyl glutamate) cationic liposomes. The viroplexes were further optimized for plasmid DNA and siRNA delivery to suspension cells. The particle size and surface charge of the viroplexes were analyzed with a zeta-sizer. Transfection of plasmid DNA (pDNA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA) by CSVs or PCSV was evaluated by measurement of transgene expression, confocal microscopy, FACS, and RT-PCR. RESULTS: The optimized CSVs and PCSVs exhibited enhanced gene and siRNA delivery in the tested suspension cell lines (Jurkat cells and CEM cells), compared with conventional cationic liposomes. In the case of pDNA transfection, the CSVs and PCSVs show at least 10-fold and 100-fold higher transgene expression compared with DMKE lipoplexes (or lipofectamine 2000), respectively. The CSVs showed more effective siRNA delivery to the suspension cells than cationic liposomes, as assessed by confocal microscopy, FACS, and RT-PCR. The effective transfection by the CSVs and PCSVs is presumably due to fusogenic activity of F/HN proteins resulting in facilitated internalization of pDNA and siRNA. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that Sendai F/HN viroplexes can be widely applicable for the transfection of pDNA and siRNA to suspension cell lines.

Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor Achieved Complete Remission after High-Dose Chemotherapy with Aggressive Local Treatment Modalities / 대한내과학회지

A desmoplastic small-round-cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare, aggressive neoplasm that develops mostly in the abdominal cavity in children and young adults. We present a case of a 19-year-old male with right upper quadrant discomfort for 3 months. On abdominal computerized tomography, multiple huge and demarcated masses were found in the liver, retroperitoneal lymph nodes, and peritoneal and retroperitoneal cavities. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of the hepatic mass was performed and DSRCT was diagnosed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical analysis. He was treated initially with high-dose systemic chemotherapy (alternating schedules of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, and etoposide), underwent two debulking surgeries and pelvic irradiation between systemic chemotherapy schedules, and achieved complete remission after the 15 months of treatment duration. We report this case to emphasize the importance of aggressive local treatment modalities as well as high-dose systemic chemotherapy for treatment of DSRCT even with initially unresectable or extensively metastatic presentation.

Surgical Treatment of Root Injury after Percutaneous Vertebroplasty: Case Report / 대한척추외과학회지

Percutaneous vertebroplasty using PMMA was first performed in France by Deramond in 1984. It was later used to treat vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis. With osteoporotic compression fractures, reported complication were few and minor. However, the principal risk of such a percutaneous technique is the leak of PMMA into the spinal canal or neural foramina. Despite being uncommon, major neurologic complications demand surgical interventions that prevent permanent neurologic dysfunction. We experienced a case of root compression during percutaneous vertebroplasty, which was treated by early surgical posterior decompression.

Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly of Namwon County, South Korea

BACKGROUND: Ethnic and geographic differences exist in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus which has increased dramatically in South Korea. A few community-based epidemiologic studies with oral glucose tolerance test were performed in South Korea. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Diabetic Association (ADA) diagnostic criteria and to investigate their associated risk factors. Also, we compared and analyzed the characteristics of Koreans by WHO and ADA diagnostic criteria. METHODS: Between March 22, 1999 and July 14, 1999, a random sampling of 1,445 residents over 40 years of age in five villages (3 myons and 2 dongs) in Namwon City, Chollabuk-do Province, South Korea was carried out. WHO and ADA diagnostic criteria were used for the prevalence of DM, IGT and IFG. The associated factors of subjects were analyzed. RESULTS: After age adjustment for the population projection of Korea (1999), the prevalence of DM and IGT was 13.7% and 13.8%, respectively, by WHO criteria, while the prevalence of DM, IGT and IFG was 15.8%, 12.8% and 5.7%, respectively, by ADA criteria, and the previous diagnosed diabetics were 5.8% in 665 adults over 40 years of age in the Namwon area. The age-adjusted prevalence of previously diagnosed diabetics was 5.8%. When the subjects classified by both criteria were compared, the level of agreement between WHO and ADA diagnostic criteria, except IFG, was very high (kappa=0.94; p < 0.001). The ROC curve analysis determined FSG of 114.5 mg/dL (6.4 mmol/L) to yield optimal sensitivity and specificity corresponding to a PP2SG 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L). The prevalence of DM and IGT with ADA diagnostic criteria rose with increasing age (p < 0.05). The body mass index was mean 23.8+/-3.4 in all the subjects, 23.75+/-3.46 in NGT group and 23.67+/-3.16 in DM group, but the differences in the prevalence of DM, IGT and IFG by BMI were not significant. The prevalence of DM rose significantly with the increase in the waist-hip ratio (p < 0.05). The prevalence of DM significantly increased in subjects by increases in blood pressure, and triglyceride and the relative risk in the prevalence of DM was significantly high with dyslipidemia (Odds ratio 2.29, 95% CI: 1.16-3.49). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus in the population over 40 years of age in Namwon City, South Korea remarkably increased compared with the 1970s and 1980s and was similar to that of the West. Ethnic differences in obesity of normal, DM and IGT subjects and in the effect on the prevalence of DM may exist in the Korean population, but they were not significant. As there is a limit in number, it is considered that a general population-based epidemiologic study on a large scale is required to investigate ethnic and geographic differences for the risk factors of DM in South Korea. The level of agreement, except IFG, by WHO and ADA diagnostic criteria was high, which indicates that these results may show that not only fasting serum glucose but also postprandial 2-h serum glucose are important for diagnosing diabetes in Korean.

Prenatal Cytogenetic Studies in 937 Cases of Midtrimester Amniocentesis / 대한주산의학회잡지

No abstract available.

Trigeminal Neuralgia in a Patient with Osteopetrosis: A Case Report

Osteopetrosis is a rare disease by a generalized increase in skeletal density and by abnormalities of bone modeling secondary to defective osteoclastic function with impairment of bone resorption. The various cranial nerve palsies may occur secondary to bony encroachment on the cranial foramina. The authors report a case of osteopetrosis with trigeminal neuralgia. This 30-year-old woman presented with the recurring attacks of severe lancinating paroxysmal pain on her right face(mandibular division>maxillary division>ophthalmic division) for 10 years and anosmia, both blindness for 20 years. Her foramen ovale and optic canal narrowings were caused by osteopetrosis. The neuralgia was refractory to medical treatment. Percutaneous radio-frequency rhizotomy for trigeminal neuralgia was performed and pain relief have been obtained. She was satisfied with the procedure, even if with facial numbness. In the case of trigeminal neuralgia in young patient without abnormal mass lesion on brain radiologic imaging studies, it is important to investigate the bony abnormalities of skull base. The authors believe that radiofrequency rhizotomy is the first choice of treatment for trigeminal neuralgia caused by the bony abnormalities of skull base such as osteopetrosis.

Atlantoaxial Subluxation due to Psoriatic Arthritis: Case Report

Psoriatic arthritis is a rare inflammatory joint disease associated with radiographic evidence of periarticular bone erosion and sometimes frank joints destruction among psoriatic patients. There have been only a few reports of atlantoaxial subluxation in patients with psoriatic arthritis in the world. The authors report a case of psoriatic arthritis with atlantoaxial subluxation. This 27-year-old man with a three year history of psoriatic skin lesion presented with painful limitation of neck and multiple joint deformities of the hands and feet, etc. We performed combined interspinous and Gallie fusion for the atlantoaxial subluxation and obtained good results of immediate and long term postoperative stability with Philadelphia neck collar only after this procedure.

A Case of Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Diagnosed in Uterus by Ultrasonogram / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a relatively rare genetic condition of breakable bones with an incidence of 1 per 20,000~60,000. The clinical, genetic, and biochemical heterogeneity in osteogenesis imperfecta allows to least four subtypes to be distinguished. Prenatal diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta type II have been reported several times with ultrasonography. We recently experienced a case of osteogenesis imperfecta diagnosed in uterus by ultrasonogram and confirmed after termination and autopsy. We report here with a brief review of the literature.