Oxidative Stress-induced Telomere Length Shortening of Circulating Leukocyte in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

The main mechanism of pathogenesis which causes systemic complications in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients is believed to be intermittent hypoxia-induced intermediary effect and it depends on the burden of oxidative stress during sleep. We aimed to search the predictive markers which reflect the burden of systemic oxidative stress in patients with OSA and whether excessive telomere length shortening is a characteristic feature that can assess oxidative stress levels. We used quantitative PCR to measure telomere length using peripheral blood genomic DNA. Telomere lengths were compared in an age- and body mass index (BMI)-dependent manner in 34 healthy volunteers and 43 OSA subjects. We also performed reactive oxygen species assay to measure the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the peripheral blood of healthy volunteers and OSA subjects. We found that the serum concentration of hydrogen peroxide was considerably higher in OSA patients, and that this was closely related with the severity of OSA. Significantly shortened telomere length was observed in the circulating leukocytes of the peripheral blood of OSA patients, and telomere length shortening was aggravated more acutely in an age- and BMI-dependent manner. An inverse correlation was observed between the concentration of hydrogen peroxide and the telomere length of OSA patients and excessive telomere length shortening was also linked to severity of OSA. The results provided evidence that telomere length shortening or excessive cellular aging might be distinctive in circulating leukocyte of OSA patients and may be an predictive biomarker for reflect the burden of oxidative stress in the peripheral blood of OSA patients.

Organizing Hematoma of the Maxillary Sinus Mimicking Malignancy Diagnosed by Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron-Emission Tomography (FDG PET/CT): A Case Report.

Organizing hematoma of the paranasal sinuses is a diagnostic dilemma clinically and radiographically, mimicking benign or malignant neoplastic processes. Although the diagnostic rate of this disease has increased as characteristic imaging findings are somewhat elucidated, endoscopic examination, preoperative biopsy, and computed tomography (CT) imaging do not give helpful information in differentiating these lesions from malignant neoplastic processes. A 55-year-old man presented with a 4-month history of recurrent nasal bleeding. He also complained of a left-sided nasal obstruction. CT findings were highly suggestive of a malignant tumor of the maxillary sinus. However, based on fluorodeoxyglucose F(18) positron-emission tomography (PET/CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the provisional diagnosis of benign tumor rather than malignancy was made. Complete resection of the mass was achieved by simple transnasal endoscopic surgery using the Caldwell-Luc approach. Organizing hematoma of the maxillary sinus was diagnosed by histopathologic evaluation. The clinical, radiological, and histopathologic findings of the patient are presented. In this report, we have presented (18)FDG-PET findings of organized hematoma of the maxillary sinus (OHMS) that showed an increased FDG uptake in the peripheral rim of the mass with central photopenia. To our knowledge, this is the first case report in the literature reporting FDG-PET/CT findings of OHMS. Careful interpretation of metabolic (FDG-PET/CT) and anatomic (CT and MRI) images should be performed to accurately characterize the expansile lesion of the maxillary sinus in order to increase specificity and reduce equivocal findings significantly.

Comparison of cytokine expression in mesenchymal stem cells from human placenta, cord blood, and bone marrow.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are capable of self-renewal and differentiation into lineages of mesenchymal tissues that are currently under investigation for a variety of therapeutic applications. The purpose of this study was to compare cytokine gene expression in MSCs from human placenta, cord blood (CB) and bone marrow (BM). The cytokine expression profiles of MSCs from BM, CB and placenta (amnion, decidua) were compared by proteome profiler array analysis. The cytokines that were expressed differently, in each type of MSC, were analyzed by real-time PCR. We evaluated 36 cytokines. Most types of MSCs had a common expression pattern including MIF (GIF, DER6), IL-8 (CXCL8), Serpin E1 (PAI-1), GROalpha(CXCL1), and IL-6. MCP-1, however, was expressed in both the MSCs from the BM and the amnion. sICAM-1 was expressed in both the amnion and decidua MSCs. SDF-1 was expressed only in the BM MSCs. Real-time PCR demonstrated the expression of the cytokines in each of the MSCs. The MSCs from bone marrow, placenta (amnion and decidua) and cord blood expressed the cytokines differently. These results suggest that cytokine induction and signal transduction are different in MSCs from different tissues.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone modulates immune system function via the nuclear factor-kappaB pathway in murine Raw264.7 macrophages.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which was originally found to be involved in the reproductive process, has also been implicated in the modulation of immune system function. However, the underlying mechanisms of this involvement remain largely unclear. In this study, we found that GnRH increased the intracellular calcium levels in murine Raw264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, the production of nitric oxide, costimulated with lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma, was suppressed by exposure to GnRH. Moreover, the modulatory effects of GnRH on calcium and nitric oxide were observed in freshly isolated primary peritoneal macrophages. In addition, the activity of nuclear factor-kappaB was suppressed by GnRH exposure. On the other hand, the phosphorylation of the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway was not affected by cotreatment with GnRH. Taken together, these results demonstrate that GnRH participates in the macrophage function and indicate that the nuclear factor-kappaB signaling pathway may be responsible for GnRH-mediated immune system modulation.

Postmenopausal status according to years since menopause as an independent risk factor for the metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Features of the metabolic syndrome such as abdominal adiposity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia develop with the transition from pre- to postmenopausal status in women. We investigated the effects of postmenopausal status on the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome according to years since menopause. DESIGN: We studied 1,002 women, 618 premenopausal and 384 postmenopausal, who participated in annual health examinations at Anam Hospital in Seoul, Korea. RESULTS: Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, we determined that postmenopausal status was an independent risk factor for the metabolic syndrome. Moreover, after controlling for age and body mass index, postmenopausal women had an increased risk of the metabolic syndrome (odds ratio, 2.93; 95% CI, 1.62-5.33) and the abnormalities of its individual components. The risk for the metabolic syndrome increased up to 14 years since menopause, then decreased. For its individual components, postmenopausal women with 5 to 9 years since menopause had the highest risk of high blood pressure; postmenopausal women with less than 5 years since menopause had an increased risk of abdominal obesity and high glucose. With 10 to 14 years since menopause, postmenopausal women had an increased risk of high triglycerides. CONCLUSIONS: Postmenopausal status is an independent risk factor for the metabolic syndrome and all of its individual components. The risk for the metabolic syndrome increased up to 14 years since menopause. In addition, postmenopausal status has effects during different periods since menopause for each of these components.

Three-dimensional Pt-coated Au nanoparticle arrays: applications for electrocatalysis and surface-enhanced Raman scattering.

This study demonstrates a novel approach to synthesis methods for core-shell nanoparticle assembly using nanoparticle trapping at an interface and subsequent transfer onto a substrate for electrochemical ultrathin layer coating. The transferred nanoparticle array can have a tunable surface area depending on the number of transferred layers. Subsequently coating the surface with Pt-group metals that behave as an ultrathin film provides electrocatalytic activities with respect to a variety of chemical reactions, depending on the properties of the selected coating materials. The transferred 3D Au nanoparticle arrays act as a high-surface-area platform for the diversity of overlayer materials. The resulting 3D core-shell nanoparticle films could be utilized as a highly active electrocatalysis and Raman scattering substrate. The approach provides a versatile and convenient synthesis route to new nanoporous material with tailorable pore structure and material properties through bottom-up assembly.

Linker-molecule-free gold nanorod layer-by-layer films for surface-enhanced Raman scattering.

This paper reports a methodology for synthesizing and ordering gold nanorods into two-dimensional arrays at a water/hexane interface. This preparation method allows the systematic control of the nanoparticle film thickness. An investigation into the thickness-dependent surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of the adsorbed molecules revealed the nanorod (NR) films to have 1 order of magnitude stronger SERS enhancement than the nanosphere (NS) under similar experimental conditions. The exposed surface areas of the prepared NR and NS films were analyzed using electrochemical methods, and it was found that they had comparable exposed surface areas. Therefore, the order of magnitude difference in the enhancement factor was not due to the differences in surface area but to their intrinsic difference in the optical coupling of each film. The difference was attributed to the high density of junction points with the NR films in comparison with the corresponding NS films. Scanning emission microscopy showed that the NR films have line contacts with each other but the NS films have point contacts, which can explain the difference in SERS intensity between the NR and NS films.

Surface enhanced Raman scattering from layered assemblies of close-packed gold nanoparticles.

A synthetic method of ordering hydrophilic gold nanoparticles into a close-packed two-dimensional array at a hexane-water interface and subsequent transferring of such structure onto a solid substrate is described. By repeating the transfer process, multilayered gold nanoparticle films are formed without need of linker molecules. Their surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) efficiencies are compared as a function of the number of layers. It is shown that both the number of layers and the particle size contribute to SERS phenomenon. Judging from the noticeable dependence of SERS efficiency on the nanometer scale architecture, the close-packed nanoparticle formation at an immiscible interface presents a facile route to the preparation of highly active and relatively clean SERS substrates by controlling both the particle size and the film thickness. Among the investigated samples, the gold nanoparticle film assembled with quintuple layers of 30 nm diameter particles showed the maximum SERS efficiency.

Assembly of highly ordered nanoparticle monolayers at a water/hexane interface.

This paper reports a methodology for preparing ordering hydrophilic metal nanoparticles into close-packed 2-dimensional arrays at a hexane-water interface with alkanethiol in the hexane layer. The destabilization of metal nanoparticles by the addition of alcohol caused the nanoparticles to adsorb to an interface where the surface of entrapped Au nanoparticle was in situ coated with the long-chain alkanethiols present in a hexane layer. The adsorption of alkanethiol to the nanoparticle surface caused the conversion of the electrostatic repulsive force to a van der Waals interaction, which is a key feature in forming highly ordered close-packed nanoparticle arrays.

Correlation between estrogens and serum adipocytokines in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between serum adipocytokines (adiponectin, resistin, leptin, and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha]) and endogenous estrogen (estrone and estradiol) levels in healthy premenopausal and postmenopausal women. DESIGN: This study included 53 healthy premenopausal women, 45 healthy postmenopausal women, and 10 postmenopausal women with the metabolic syndrome who were participating in general health examinations. A secondary analysis was performed on levels of adiponectin, resistin, leptin, TNF-alpha, estrone (E1), and estradiol (E2). RESULTS: After accounting for body mass index, TNF-alpha was significantly increased (1.5+/-0.1 vs 2.0+/-0.1 pg/mL, P<0.05) in healthy postmenopausal women as compared with healthy premenopausal women, whereas leptin was decreased (5.6+/-1.1 vs 4.0+/-1.1 ng/mL). Estrogen (E1 and E2) was positively correlated with leptin in only healthy premenopausal women, whereas estrogen did not correlate with any adipocytokine in healthy postmenopausal women. In the multiple regression analysis, only leptin significantly contributed to insulin resistance. Combining healthy premenopausal and postmenopausal women, E1 correlated negatively with TNF-alpha (r=-0.23, P<0.05) and positively with leptin (r=0.35, P<0.01) and did not correlate with resistin. E2 correlated negatively with TNF-alpha (r=-0.24, P<0.05) and positively with leptin (r=0.34, P<0.01); it did not correlate with adiponectin or resistin. Leptin might stimulate the increase of plasma gonadotropin-releasing hormone levels, which could result in a positive correlation with estrogen in premenopausal women but not in postmenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: Estrogen deficiency resulted in increased TNF-alpha levels. Serum leptin levels correlated positively with estrogen levels in premenopausal women. However, the increase in obesity in postmenopausal women increased leptin, which increases insulin resistance.

Septate uterus with double cervices, unilaterally obstructed vaginal septum, and ipsilateral renal agenesis: a rare combination of müllerian and wolffian anomalies complicated by severe endometriosis in an adolescent.

We present a previously unreported combination of müllerian and wolffian anomalies of a septate uterus with double cervices, unilaterally obstructed vaginal septum, and ipsilateral renal agenesis; this constellation of findings may offer clues that could modify classic embryologic explanations. In spite of the young age of our patient (15-years old), a chief complaint of malodorous vaginal discharge, and absence of dysmenorrhea or any other symptoms of endometriosis, laparoscopic examination revealed severe endometriosis with dense adhesions, probably as a result of abundant menstrual regurgitation. Laparoscopic resection of endometriotic lesions, adhesiolysis, and vaginoscopic septotomy were successfully performed while preserving hymenal integrity.

Persistent HPV infection after conization in patients with negative margins.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the rate of clearance of high-risk HPV after conization with negative margins and to identify the factors that may predict high-risk HPV clearance/persistence after conization with negative margins. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 69 patients (mean age 39.5 years, range 25-60 years) with histologically verified CIN 2 or CIN 3 who underwent electroknife conization with negative margins between March 2002 and December 2003. High-risk HPV testing was performed on cervical cytology prior to and 6 months after conization. Hybrid Capture II testing was used to detect HPV DNA. RESULTS: High-risk HPVs were detected in the primary cervical lesions of 67 of 69 patients (97.1%) prior to conization. Follow-up at 6 months revealed that high-risk HPVs were eradicated by conization in 82.1%. Univariate analysis showed that persistent HPV infection after conization with negative margins was more likely to occur when the pretreatment viral load was high (RLU/PC > 500) (P = 0.005). HPV infection after conization with negative margins was persistent in 43.8% (7/16) of patients with high viral load (RLU/PC > 500) and in 9.8% (5/51) of patients with low viral load (RLU/PC < or = 500). Multiple regression analysis showed that high viral load (RLU/PC > 500) was the only significant independent predictor of HPV persistence (P = 0.0027). CONCLUSIONS: High-risk HPV infections were effectively eliminated by conization with negative margins in most cases. Because high viral loads are significantly associated with high-risk HPV persistence after conization with negative margins, patients with high viral loads prior to conization should be closely followed.

Mutant p53 protein in the serum of patients with cervical carcinoma: correlation with the level of serum epidermal growth factor receptor and prognostic significance.

We have previously reported that the serum level of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was significantly elevated in 38 cervical carcinoma patients. The levels of mutant p53 protein were determined in the serum of the same cohort (invasive or recurrent carcinoma: 26, carcinoma in situ (CIS): 12) and 18 controls using ELISA. The median serum level for mutant p53 in cervical carcinoma patients (0.11 ng/ml; range, 0-2.66 ng/ml) demonstrated no significant difference compared to that of controls (0.14 ng/ml; range, 0-0.34 ng/ml) (P=0.324). Serum mutant p53 showed positive elevation in 5 patients with invasive or recurrent carcinoma (19%) and 1 with CIS (8%). A significant correlation was found between EGFR and mutant p53 levels (r=0.668; P<0.0001). In invasive or recurrent cervical carcinoma, positive mutant p53 was significantly associated with poor overall survival in both univariate (P=0.035) and multivariate (P=0.046) analysis, while increased level of EGFR did not show prognostic significance (P=0.755). Serum mutant p53 could have potential usefulness as a biological marker of cervical carcinoma for prediction of prognosis and follow-up after treatment.