Biomedical subjects

J A Kim

Publications and source records attributed to J A Kim.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Inhibitory effects of constituents of Gastrodia elata Bl. on glutamate-induced apoptosis in IMR-32 human neuroblastoma cells.

The inhibitory effects of the constituents of Gastrodia elata Bl. (GE) on glutamate-induced apoptosis in human neuronal cells were investigated using IMR32 human neuroblastoma cells. Glutamate (GLU) induced DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of apoptosis, in a dose-dependent manner. GLU also induced a slow and sustained increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Treatment with EGTA, an extracellular Ca2+ chelator, in a nominal Ca2+-free buffer solution abolished the GLU-induced intracellular Ca2+ increase, indicating that GLU stimulated Ca2+ influx pathway in the IMR32 cells. BAPTA, an intracellular Ca2+ chelator, significantly inhibited the GLU-induced apoptosis assessed by the flow cytometry measuring hypodiploid DNA content indicative of apoptosis, implying that intracellular Ca2+ rise may mediate the apoptotic action of GLU. Vanillin (VAN) and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (p-HB), known constituents of GE, significantly inhibited both intracellular Ca2+ rise and apoptosis induced by GLU. These results suggest that the apoptosis-inhibitory actions of the constituents of GE may account, at least in part, for the basis of their antiepileptic activities. These results further suggest that intracellular Ca2+ signaling pathway may be a molecular target of the constituents of GE.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

PubMed1999

Modulation of CD4 cell cytokine production by colon cancer-associated mucin.

PURPOSE: Mucins have been implicated in tumor-associated immunosuppression. The possibility that colon cancer mucin (CCM) may modulate T-helper 1 (TH1) activity was evaluated by investigating its effect on the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by CD4+ cells, a process that requires antigen-specific and costimulatory signals. METHODS: CCM was purified from human colorectal cancer cells by gel-exclusion fast-pressure liquid chromatography. Cytokine production of purified CD4+ cells was evaluated at the protein and gene level in the presence of a phorbol ester or an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) plus mAb against the CD28 costimulatory receptor to mimic two-signal activation. RESULTS: Soluble CCM, which contains mucins MUC2 as well as MUC1, inhibited IL-2 mRNA expression and secretion of CD4+ stimulated with a phorbol ester or an anti-CD3 mAb plus anti-CD28 mAb. Pretreatment of CD4+ cells with anti-CD28 mAb abrogated the suppressive effects of CCM on IL-2 production, and flow cytometry showed decreased binding of anti-CD28 mAb to its receptor in the presence of mucin. In addition, Ca2+ mobilization after T cell receptor cross-linking with anti-CD3 mAb was maintained in the presence of CCM. Although interferon gamma production was also diminished, CCM did not induce a general inhibition of cytokine production, nor did it decrease cell viability. Macrophage inflammatory protein 1alpha production was up-regulated; the production of IL-10 and transforming growth factor beta was unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that CCM can alter TH1 activity and suggest that the modulation of costimulatory interactions is involved. They provide another mechanism of immunosuppression mediated by these highly expressed tumor products.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

PubMed1999

Routine preoperative lymphoscintigraphy is not necessary prior to sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: This prospective study was performed to ascertain the added benefit of lymphoscintigraphy to a standard method of intraoperative lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer. METHODS: Patients with invasive breast cancer were injected with 99mTc sulfur colloid prior to sentinel node biopsy; preoperative lymphoscintigraphy was then performed in half of the patient population. RESULTS: Sentinel node identification was possible in 45 of 50 patients (90%). All 14 patients (31%) with axillary nodal metastases had at least one histologically positive sentinel node (0% false negative rate). Lymphoscintigraphy revealed sentinel nodes in 17 of the 24 patients (70.8%) imaged. All 17 of these patients had one or more axillary sentinel nodes identified using intraoperative lymphatic mapping. In addition, 5 of 7 patients with a negative preoperative lymphoscintogram had an axillary sentinel lymph node(s) identified intraoperatively. None of the tumors showed drainage to the internal mammary lymph node chain by lymphoscintigraphy despite the fact that there were 5 patients with inner quadrant tumors. There was no significant advantage with respect to sentinel lymph node localization (91.7% versus 88.5%, P = not significant) or false negative rate (0%, both groups, P = not significant) in the group undergoing preoperative lymphoscintigraphy when compared with the patients in whom lymphoscintigraphy was not performed. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy adds little additional information to intraoperative lymphatic mapping, and its routine use is not justified.

Axilla↗

PubMed1999

Metabolic and morphological stability of motoneurons in response to chronically elevated neuromuscular activity.

The purpose of this study was to determine the plasticity of spinal motoneuron size and succinate dehydrogenase activity in response to increased levels of neuromuscular activation and/or increased target size. The plantaris muscles of adult rats were functionally overloaded for one or 10 weeks via the removal of the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles bilaterally. In addition, one group of functionally overloaded rats at each time period was trained daily (1 h/day) on a treadmill. The plantaris muscle on one side in each rat was injected with the fluorescent tracer Nuclear Yellow two days prior to the end of the study to retrogradely label the associated motor pool. At one week, the plantaris weight was increased compared to control, whereas there was no change in motoneuron size. Succinate dehydrogenase activity was unaffected in either the muscle or motoneurons. At 10 weeks, the plantaris muscle weight was larger and the succinate dehydrogenase activity lower in the functionally overloaded rats compared to age-matched controls. Training further increased the hypertrophic response, whereas the succinate dehydrogenase activity returned to control levels. In contrast, mean motoneuron size and succinate dehydrogenase activity were similar among the three groups. These data indicate that overload of a specific motor pool, involving both an increase in activation and an increase in target size, had a minimal effect on the size or the oxidative potential of the associated motoneurons. Thus, it appears that the spinal motoneurons, unlike the muscle fibers, are highly stable over a wide range of levels of chronic neuromuscular activity.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Identification and genetic homogeneity of Trichophyton tonsurans isolated from several regions by random amplified polymorphic DNA.

Trichophyton tonsurans is an anthropophilic dermatophyte mostly causing tinea capitis and tinea corporis. This study was carried out to identify T. tonsurans and to clarify whether it has any genetic differences depending on the phenotype or region of isolation by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis with three random primers. The assay was performed in 11 Korean, 2 Japanese, 2 Taiwanese, 5 Brazilian and 1 American isolates of T. tonsurans together with the other 10 anamorphic species of dermatophytes and 3 Arthroderma spp. All tested species of dermatophytes showed distinct bands and T. tonsurans was differentiated from other dermatophytes. It was most clearly differentiated from T. mentagrophytes by using primer 5'-GAAGGCTCCC-3' (OPAO-15). No difference was found in RAPD band patterns in all strains of T. tonsurans with these random primers. It was considered that T. tonsurans is a genetically homogeneous species regardless of its isolation regions, morphologic or physiologic characteristics.

DNA, Fungal↗

PubMed1999

Glycolic acid versus Jessner's solution: which is better for facial acne patients? A randomized prospective clinical trial of split-face model therapy.

BACKGROUND: Many clinicians perform glycolic acid peels for facial acne patients, but there has not been a well-controlled study to compare this new therapy with other conventional modalities. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of treatment and side effects in the treatment of facial acne by two agents, 70% glycolic acid and Jessner's solution. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with facial acne were treated simultaneously with 70% glycolic acid and Jessner's solution biweekly on each side of the face. The treatment sides were randomized and the evaluation of treatment was done biweekly by a blinded evaluator who did not know the randomization code. Dr. Cunliffe's acne grading system was used for objective comparison. All patients were also asked about the improvement of facial acne and about the side effects experienced. Finally, the patients answered the preference test between the 2 peeling methods. RESULTS: Acne grading of both treatments improved after 3 treatment sessions. However, there were no significant differences in treatment effects between the 2 methods. As far as side effects were concerned, sites treated with Jessner's solution showed a significantly increased degree of exfoliation compared to glycolic acid (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Glycolic acid is less widely used than Jessner's solution due to its inconvenient application technique. But considering the equal treatment effect and lesser degree of exfoliation in glycolic acid, we would recommend the use of glycolic acid over Jessner's solution for acne patients.

Acne Vulgaris↗

PubMed1999

Low-dose monoclonal antibody CC49 administered sequentially with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

The clinical and immunologic effects of murine monoclonal antibody (mAb) CC49 administered at a low dose sequentially with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were examined. Fourteen patients with metastatic colorectal cancer received 1 mg of unconjugated CC49 on day 1; on day 15 they began 125 micrograms/m2 GM-CSF by subcutaneous injection daily for 14 days, followed by 7 days of rest. Another 14 days of GM-CSF were then administered, followed by 7 days of rest. This 56-day cycle was repeated in patients whose cancer did not progress. Therapy was well tolerated; adverse allergic reactions were not observed. Objective tumor responses were not observed. Increases in antiidiotypic (T2) and anti-antiidiotypic (T3) cellular responses were observed, as were increases in human antimouse antibody levels. In contrast, the expression of Fc receptors on CD14+ peripheral blood monocytes decreased. This pilot study demonstrates idiotypic cellular immunologic effects of antitumor murine mAb, even at the doses used for imaging, and supports the sequential administration of GM-CSF as an adjuvant to mAb-based immunogens.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Lipoxygenase products increase monocyte adhesion to human aortic endothelial cells.

The development of atherosclerosis is accelerated in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Adhesion of monocytes to the vascular endothelium is a key initial step in atherogenesis. We have previously shown that monocyte adhesion to human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) cultured long-term in high-glucose medium (25 mmol/L, 2 passages) is increased compared with cells grown in normal glucose (5 mmol/L). One potential mechanism for increased monocyte adhesion to HAECs under hyperglycemic conditions is via the 12-lipoxygenase (12-LO) pathway. In this study, we demonstrated in HAECs that the major LO metabolite of arachidonic acid was the 12-LO product, 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid [12(S)-HETE], which was increased severalfold in HAECs cultured under high-glucose conditions. Furthermore, treatment of HAECs with 12(S)-HETE induced monocyte, but not neutrophil, adhesion an average of 3-fold (range of 1.5- to 5-fold) compared with untreated cells (75+/-5 versus 26+/-1 monocytes per field, respectively, P<0.001). Expression of the adhesion molecules vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 was not significantly increased. However, both glucose and 12(S)-HETE induced a 60% increase in HAEC surface expression of connecting segment-1 (ie, CS-1) fibronectin, a ligand for very late-acting antigen-4 (VLA-4). The antibodies used to block monocyte integrin VLA-4 and leukocyte function-related antigen-1, a monocytic counterreceptor for intercellular adhesion molecule-1, inhibited the ability of both 12-LO products and high glucose to induce monocyte adhesion. These results definitively demonstrate for the first time in HAECs that the 12-LO pathway can induce monocyte-endothelial cell interaction and that the effects of glucose may be mediated, at least in part, through this pathway. Thus, these results suggest that the 12-LO pathway may play a role in the increased susceptibility of diabetics to atherosclerosis.

12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid↗

PubMed1999

Endothelin-1 enhances plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 production by human brain endothelial cells via protein kinase C-dependent pathway.

The effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) on the production of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) by human brain-derived endothelial cells in culture were studied. At 100 nmol/L, ET-1 increased PAI-1 production by 88+/-6% within 72 hours, and increased PAI-1 mRNA expression within 1 hour of stimulation; there was no significant effect on t-PA production. PAI-1 activity was also examined and found to increase with ET-1 treatment. Suboptimal concentrations of ET-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) acted synergistically to increase PAI-1 production. ET-1 activated protein kinase C and cAMP-dependent protein kinase pathways within 3 to 5 minutes of treatment, with the peak at 10 minutes. Activation of protein kinase C by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) resulted in increased PAI-1 production, whereas activation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase by forskolin or dibutyryl cAMP (dBu-cAMP) significantly decreased PAI-1 production. However, simultaneous activation of protein kinase C by PMA and cAMP-dependent protein kinase by dBu-cAMP only slightly attenuated PMA-induced PAI-1 increase. Inhibition of protein kinase C by GF-109213X abolished the effects of ET-1. These results demonstrate that ET-1 and TNF-alpha function synergistically to induce procoagulant activity of brain endothelial cells in a process that involves a protein kinase C-dependent pathway.

Brain↗

PubMed1999

Assessment of body composition using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry in patients with liver cirrhosis: comparison with anthropometry.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes of body composition in cirrhotic patients. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and anthropometry were used, and the values obtained were compared. METHODS: Mid-arm fat and muscle areas were calculated by anthropometry in 66 cirrhotic patients and 94 healthy controls. In 37 of the cirrhotic patients and 39 of the controls, fat mass, lean soft tissue mass and bone mineral contents were measured with DEXA. RESULTS: The number of cirrhotic patients with measured values below the fifth percentile of normal controls was 21 (31.8%) by mid-arm fat area, six (9.1%) by mid-arm muscle area, 15 (40.5%) by fat mass and 0 (0%) by lean soft tissue mass. The fat mass in cirrhotic patients was less than in controls, whereas lean soft tissue mass and bone mineral content were not different. Fat depletion was severe in Child-class C patients and with severe ascites. Mid-arm fat area and fat mass showed close correlation (r = 0.85, p < 0.01), but mid-arm muscle area and lean soft tissue mass showed poor correlation (r = 0.32, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Cirrhotic patients showed lower fat component, with preserved lean soft tissue mass and bone mineral content. In clinical practice, the measurement of mid-arm fat area was useful for the assessment of fat mass.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed1999

Drug-onset cues as signals: intraadministration associations and tolerance.

On the basis of a conditioning analysis of drug tolerance, drug-associated cues become associated with the drug effect. These cues elicit conditional compensatory responses and modulate the expression of tolerance. Although there are many findings consistent with the conditioning analysis of tolerance, there also are contrary findings. The results of these experiments suggest that some of the apparently contradictory findings result because interoceptive pharmacological cues, as well as exteroceptive environmental cues, are paired with a drug effect. That is, within each administration, early drug-onset cues may become associated with the later, larger drug effect, and these pharmacological cues may overshadow simultaneously present environmental cues. We demonstrate the contribution of such intraadministration associations to tolerance to the analgesic effect of morphine and to the expression of conditional compensatory hyperalgesia.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Fiber size and myosin phenotypes of selected Rhesus hindlimb muscles after a 14-day spaceflight.

Open muscle biopsies were obtained from Rhesus soleus (slow ankle extensor), medial gastrocnemius (fast ankle extensor) and tibialis anterior (fast ankle flexor) muscles before and after either a 14-day spaceflight (BION 11, n=2) or ground-based flight simulation (n=3) and in time-matched controls (n=5). Fiber type distribution (immunohistochemistry), myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition (gel electrophoresis) and fiber size were determined. There was a large amount of inter-animal variability and there were no significant pre-post differences for any variable under any condition for any muscle studied. However, each muscle showed trends towards adaptation. Based on the immunohistochemical analyses, the percentage of type I fibers in the soleus was 68 and 86% in pre and 43 and 70% in post biopsies of the simulation and flight groups. The number of hybrid (containing both fast and slow MHC) fibers increased in both groups. MHC composition changed in a similar direction. Type I and hybrid fibers were 23 and 31% smaller after than before flight. In the medial gastrocnemius, type I fibers were 16, 14 and 32% smaller in post compared to pre biopsies in control, simulation and flight Rhesus. In the tibialis anterior, type I fibers were approximately 14% smaller in post- than pre-flight biopsies. As expected the soleus, a slow anti-gravity muscle, was most affected after 14 days of weightlessness. Further, slow fibers in each muscle were more responsive to microgravity than fast fibers. All changes, however, were smaller than those observed in rats after the same duration of flight. This differential effect may be related to the partial restraint of Rhesus in the chaired position compared to the free-floating position of rats in the cage and/or to differences in the contractile protein turnover rates between species.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Role of Ca2+ influx in the tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced apoptosis of HepG2 human hepatoblastoma cells.

Oxidative stress appears to be implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases including alcoholic liver injury. In this study we investigated the mechanism of apoptosis induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) in HepG2 human hepatoblastoma cells. Treatment with TBHP significantly reduced glutathione content and glutathione reductase activity, and increased glutathione peroxidase activity, indicating that TBHP induced oxidative stress in the HepG2 cells. TBHP also induced reduction of cell viability and DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of apoptosis, in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, TBHP induced a sustained increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, which was completely prevented by the extracellular Ca2+ chelation with EGTA. TBHP also induced Mn2+ influx. These results indicate that the intracellular Ca2+ increase by TBHP is exclusively due to Ca2+ influx from the extracellular site. Treatment with either an extracellular (EGTA) or an intracellular Ca2+ chelator (BAPTA/AM) significantly suppressed the TBHP-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these results suggest that TBHP induced the apoptotic cell death in the HepG2 cells and that Ca2+ influx may play an important role in the apoptosis induced by TBHP.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed1998

Potential antitumor alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone-bearing nucleic acid base. 3. Synthesis of 5'-methyl-5'-[(6-substituted-9H-purin-9-yl)methyl]-2'-oxo-3'- methylenetetrahydrofurans.

Search for a new alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone-bearing 6-substituted purine as a potential antitumor agent has led to synthesize seven, hitherto unreported, 5'-Methyl-5'-[(6-substituted-9H-purin-9-yl)methyl]-2'-oxo-3'- methylenetetrahydrofurans (H, Cl, I, CH3, NH2, SH, > C=O) (6a-g). These include 5'-Methyl-5'-[(9H-purin-9-yl)methyl]-2'-oxo-3'-methylenetetrahydrofur ans (6a), 5'-Methyl-5'-[(chloro-9H-purin-9-yl)methyl]-2'-oxo-3'- methylenetetrahydrofurans (6b), 5'-Methyl-5'-[(6-iodo-9H-purin-9-yl) methyl]-2'-oxo-3'-methylenetetrahydrofurans (6c), 5'-Methyl-5'-[(6-methyl-9H-purin-9-yl) methyl]-2'-oxo-3'-methylenetetrahydrofurans (6d), 5'-Methyl-5'-[(9H-adenin-9-yl)methyl]-2'-oxo-3-methylenetetrahy drofurans (6e), 5'-Methyl-5'-[(6-mercapto-9H-purin-9-yl) methyl]-2'-oxo-3'-methylenetetrahydrofurans (6f) and 5'-Methyl-5'-[(9H-hypoxanthin-9-yl)methyl]-2'-oxo-3'- methylenetetrahydrofurans (6g) which were made by the Reformatsky-type reaction of ethyl alpha-(bromomethyl) acrylate with the corresponding (6-substituted-9H-purin-9-yl)-2-propanone intermediates (5a-g). These ketone intermediates 5a-g, 1-(9H-purin-9-yl)-2-propanone (5a), 1-(6-chloro-9H-purin-9-yl)-2-propanone (5b), 1-(6-iodo-9H-purin-9-yl)-2-propanone (5c), 1-(6-methyl-9H-purin-9-yl)-2-propanone (5d), 1-(9H-adenin-9-yl)-2-propanone (5e), 1-(6-mercapto-9H-purin-9-yl)-2-propanone (5f), and 1-(9H-hypoxanthin-9-yl)-2-propanone (5g) were directly obtained by the alkylation of the 6-substituted purine bases with the chloroacetone in the presence of K2CO3 (or NaH) under DMF (or DMSO). The preliminary in vitro cytotoxicity assay for the synthetic alpha-methylene-gamma-butyro-lactone compounds (6a-g) were determined against three cell lines (PM-3A, P-388, and K-562) and showed the moderate antitumor activity (IC50 ranged from 1.4 to 4.3 micrograms/ml) with the compound 5'-methyl-5'-[(9H-hypoxanthin-9-yl)methyl]-2'-oxo-3'- methylenetetrahydrofuran (6g) showing the least antitumor activity.

4-Butyrolactone↗

PubMed1998

Intracellular Ca2+ mediates lipoxygenase-induced proliferation of U-373 MG human astrocytoma cells.

The role of intracellular Ca2+ in the regulation of tumor cell proliferation by products of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism was investigated using U-373 MG human astrocytoma cells. Treatment with nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), a lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitor, or caffeic acid (CA), a specific 5-LOX inhibitor, suppressed proliferation of the tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, indomethacin (Indo), a cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, did not significantly alter proliferation of the tumor cells. At anti-proliferative concentrations, NDGA and CA significantly inhibited intracellular Ca2+ release induced by carbachol, a known intracellular Ca2+ agonist in the tumor cells. Exogenous administration of leukotriene B4 (LTB4), an AA metabolite of LOX pathway, enhanced proliferation of the tumor cells in a concentration-dependent fashion. In addition, LTB4 induced intracellular Ca2+ release. Intracellular Ca2+ inhibitors, such as an intracellular Ca2+ chelator (BAPTA) and intracellular Ca(2+)-release inhibitors (dantrolene and TMB-8), significantly blocked the LTB4-induced enhancement of cell proliferation and intracellular Ca2+ release. These results suggest that LOX activity may be critical for cell proliferation of the human astrocytoma cells and that intracellular Ca2+ may play a major role in the mechanism of action of LOX.

Arachidonic Acid↗

PubMed1998

Determinants of survival following hepatic resection for metastatic colorectal cancer.

Hepatic resection remains the only potentially curative treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. This retrospective review study was undertaken in an attempt to identify factors that influence patient survival following hepatic resection for metastatic colorectal cancer. From January 1978 to December 1993, a total of 301 patients underwent a total of 345 planned hepatic resections for metastatic colorectal cancer. Of those, 245 patients had one resection, 44 had two resections, and 12 had three resections. For all patients the overall median survival was 20.6 months, operative mortality was 1.1%, and overall morbidity was 17.2%. Average hospital stay was 9 days. Statistical analysis included univariate analysis using log rank comparisons, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards regression. The statistically significant factors that influenced survival were distribution of liver metastases, unilobar versus bilobar (p = 0.0001), resected versus nonresected (p < 0.0001), and tumor-free surgical margins versus positive margins (p = 0.001). Surprisingly, the disease-free interval and the original stage of the primary tumor did not predict survival (p = not significant). Other factors that had no influence on survival were type of resection, size and number of liver metastases, ABO blood group, and the number of perioperative blood transfusions. For those patients who underwent resection of unilobar metastases with tumor-free margins, the 5-year survival rate was 29% with a median survival of 35 months and eight survivors > 7 years. In addition, one patient with bilobar disease had survival > 7 years and five patients who had resection of hepatic metastases and extrahepatic cancer simultaneously had survival > 3 years. Our data support the concept that patients with unilobar metastatic disease who undergo surgical resection with tumor-free surgical margins can be afforded a significant opportunity at long-term survival with acceptable morbidity, mortality, and hospital stay. Also, certain patients with bilobar or extrahepatic disease (or both) who undergo complete resection can enjoy a long-term survival. In these subgroups of patients resection should be considered on an individual basis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1998

A case of subungual osteochondroma.

Subungual osteochondroma is a rare form of benign bone tumor characterized by distinctive histopathological and radiological findings. The major clinical manifestation is a firm mass with tenderness. It must be differentiated from other similar diseases such as subungual exostosis, glomus tumor, and enchondroma to determine the proper surgical procedure. A 13-year-old boy had a history of a growing tender mass on the right third toe which recurred after simple excision. He was treated by careful dissection and total excision under local anesthesia. Histologic findings included a trabecular bone formation covered with hyaline cartilage cap and were compatible with osteochondroma.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Intracellular Ca2+ release mediates ursolic acid-induced apoptosis in human leukemic HL-60 cells.

The effect of ursolic acid (UA) on tumor cell apoptosis was investigated using HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells as a model cellular system. Treatment with UA resulted in a concentration-dependent decreased cell viability assessed by MTT assay. UA also induced genomic DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of apoptosis, indicating that the mechanism by which UA induced cell death was through apoptosis. The intracellular Ca2+ level was increased by treatment with UA. Intracellular Ca2+ inhibitors, such as intracellular Ca2+-release blockers (dantrolene, TMB-8 and ruthenium red) and an intracellular Ca2+ chelator (BAPTA/AM), significantly blocked the UA-induced increased intracellular Ca+ concentration. These inhibitors also blocked the effects of UA on cell viability and apoptosis. These results suggest that enhanced intracellular Ca2+ signals may be involved in UA-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗