Carpinus turczaninowii extract modulates arterial inflammatory response: a potential therapeutic use for atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Vascular inflammation is an important feature in the atherosclerotic process. Recent studies report that leaves and branches of Carpinus turczaninowii (C. turczaninowii) have antioxidant capacity and exert anti-inflammatory effects. However, no study has reported the regulatory effect of C. turczaninowii extract on the arterial inflammatory response. This study therefore investigated modulation of the arterial inflammatory response after exposure to C. turczaninowii extract, using human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HAoSMCs).

MATERIALS/METHODS

Scavenging activity of free radicals, total phenolic content (TPC), cell viability, mRNA expressions, and secreted levels of cytokines were measured in LPS-stimulated (10 ng/mL) HAoSMCs treated with the C. turczaninowii extract.

RESULTS

C. turczaninowii extract contains high amounts of TPC (225.6 ± 21.0 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g of the extract), as well as exerts time-and dose-dependent increases in strongly scavenged free radicals (average 14.8 ± 1.97 µg/mL IC₅₀ at 40 min). Cell viabilities after exposure to the extracts (1 and 10 µg/mL) were similar to the viability of non-treated cells. Cytokine mRNA expressions were significantly suppressed by the extracts (1 and 10 µg/mL) at 6 hours (h) after exposure. Interleukin-6 secretion was dose-dependently suppressed 2 h after incubation with the extract, at 1–10 µg/mL in non-stimulated cells, and at 5 and 10 µg/mL in LPS-stimulated cells. Similar patterns were also observed at 24 h after incubation with the extract (at 1–10 µg/mL in non-stimulated cells, and at 10 µg/mL in the LPS-stimulated cells). Soluble intracellular vascular adhesion molecules (sICAM-1) secreted from non-stimulated cells and LPS-stimulated cells were similarly suppressed in a dose-dependent manner after 24 h exposure to the extracts, but not after 2 h. In addition, sICAM-1 concentration after 24 h treatment was positively related to IL-6 levels after 2 h and 24 h exposure (r = 0.418, P = 0.003, and r = 0.524, P < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that C. turczaninowii modulates the arterial inflammatory response, and indicates the potential to be applied as a therapeutic use for atherosclerosis.

The Association between Food Group Consumption Patterns and Early Metabolic Syndrome Risk in Non-Diabetic Healthy People

We investigated the association between dietary habits/food group consumption patterns and early risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS), a main cause for metabolic disease. Study participants were recruited from the health promotion center in Dong-A University Hospital and public advertisement. Study subjects (n = 243, 21-80 years) were categorized into three groups: Super-healthy (MetS risk factor [MetS RF] = 0, n = 111), MetS-risk carriers (MetS RF = 1-2, n = 96), and MetS (MetS RF ≥ 3, n = 27). Higher regularity in dietary habits (breakfast-everyday, regular eating time, non-frequent overeating, and non-frequent eating-out) was observed in the Super-healthy group than in the MetS-risk carriers, and particularly in the MetS subjects. The relationship between food group consumption patterns and MetS-risk related parameters were investigated with adjustment for confounding factors. Fruit consumption was positively associated with HDL-cholesterol, and tended to be negatively associated with waist circumference, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, and insulin resistance (IR). The consumption of low-fat meats and fish, and vegetables was negatively associated with hs-CRP. Specifically, the consumption of sea-foods belonging to the low-fat fish was negatively associated with fasting glucose, hs-CRP, and interleukin (IL)-6. Anchovy/dried white baits consumption was negatively associated with fasting insulin and IR. Green-yellow vegetables consumption was negatively associated with fasting insulin, IR, and hs-CRP. On the other hand, sugars and fast-foods were positively associated with LDL-cholesterol. Additionally, fast-foods consumption was positively associated with hs-CRP and IL-6 levels. In conclusion, dietary habits/food group consumption patterns are closely associated with MetS-risk related parameters in Koreans. It may suggest useful information to educate people to properly select healthy foods for early prevention of MetS.

The relationship between circulating neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and early alteration of metabolic parameters is associated with dietary saturated fat intake in non-diabetic Korean women

Circulating neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is associated with obesity-related metabolic disorders. This study investigated the relationship between serum NGAL and early alteration of metabolic parameters in non-diabetic Korean women, particularly with respect to saturated fat (SFA) intake. Anthropometric parameters, fasting glycemic status, and levels of lipids, oxidative stress/inflammatory markers, and NGAL were measured in 82 non-diabetic Korean women [Super-healthy group (n=57) with 0 metabolic syndrome risk factor (MetS RF) and MetS-risk group (n=25) with MetS RF≥1]. Age, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, HbA1C, triglyceride, LDL and total-cholesterol, and NGAL levels were higher, and HDL-cholesterol was lower in the MetS-risk group than in the Super-healthy group. Age-adjusted serum NGAL levels were higher in the MetS-risk group than in the Super-healthy group. NGAL increased proportionally with increase in MetS RFs (p=0.038) and correlated positively with BMI, triglycerides, LDL- and total-cholesterol, interleukin-6, white blood cell count, and neutrophil%, and negatively with HDL-cholesterol and superoxide dismutase activity. Serum NGAL levels positively correlated with SFA intake before and after adjustment (age and BMI). Serum NGAL levels were higher in high-SFA consumers [≥7g/day, ≥7% of total calorie intake (TCI)] than in low-SFA consumers (<7g/day, <7% of TCI). Serum NGAL levels were highest in the MetS-risk group consuming higher SFA and lowest in the Super-healthy group consuming lower SFA. However, serum NGAL did not significantly differ between the low-SFA consuming MetS-risk and Super-healthy groups. The relationship between circulating NGAL and early alteration of metabolic parameters is associated with dietary SFA intake in non-diabetic Korean women.

FIGO stage 1B2 cervical carcinoma--the KK Women's and Children's Hospital experience

INTRODUCTION

The objectives of this review were to document the surgico-pathological characteristics of surgically resected FIGO stage 1B2 cervical carcinoma and to review our overall experience with this disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective review of 35 patients diagnosed and treated from September 1990 to November 2001.

RESULTS

The median age was 42 years and the mean tumour diameter was 5.1 cm. Majority were squamous cell carcinomas (65.7%), 28.6% were adenocarcinomas and 5.7% were adeno-squamous carcinomas. The primary treatment comprised radical surgery in 77.1%, radiotherapy in 20% and neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy in 2.9%. Significant surgico-pathological features noted were deep stromal invasion (66.7%), lympho-vascular space invasion (55.6%), parametrial involvement (22.2%), positive margins (3.7%) and pelvic node metastases (33.3%). Postoperative radiation was given to 92.6% of the patients who underwent primary surgery, of whom 29% received concurrent chemotherapy. Radiation toxicity was mild with no grade 3 or 4 toxicity documented. For the patients who had surgery, the recurRence rate was 14.8% (11.1% pelvic and 3.7% distant) and the survival rate was 88.9%. For those who had primary radiation, the rate of persistent disease was 28.6%, the distant recurrence rate was 28.6% and the survival rate was 57.1%.

CONCLUSION

FIGO stage 1B2 cervical carcinomas are associated with significant rates of adverse surgico-pathological features. The ideal primary treatment is yet to be established and should be determined by prospective randomised trials.

Topical and subconjunctival anesthesia for phacoemulsification: prospective study

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical and subconjunctival anesthesia for phacoemulsification and to compare the results with those of retrobulbar-peribulbar anesthesia.

METHODS

This prospective study evaluated 402 patients having phacoemulsification during 60 surgical sessions. Patients were randomly assigned to receive a topical and subconjunctival injection of lidocaine 4% or a retrobulbar injection of the same anesthetic.

RESULTS

Patients who received topical and subconjunctival anesthesia received less anesthetic (0.25 versus 3.25 mL) and had fewer side effects from the intravenous sedation and a lower incidence of capsular rupture associated with positive vitreous pressure during surgery (0 versus 2.9%). The difference in postoperative discomfort was not statistically significant, and there were no complications resulting from needle insertion.

CONCLUSION

Topical and subconjunctival anesthesia using lidocaine 4% was as effective as retrobulbar and peribulbar anesthesia for routine phacoemulsification. In addition, fewer anesthetic drugs and less patient sedation were required, and there were fewer intraoperative and postoperative complications.

The relative prognostic significance of total cathepsin D and HER-2/neu oncogene amplification in breast cancer. The South Australian Breast Cancer Study Group

Total tumor cathepsin D (TCD) levels were determined prospectively by a radioimmunometric assay in tumor cytosol of 858 primary breast cancer patients diagnosed between 1989-1991. In 581 of these patients, tumor HER-2/neu oncogene amplification was simultaneously determined. In a "training-set" of 313 patients, "high" TCD was associated with significantly shorter disease-free survival (DFS). For the whole group, there was no correlation between TCD and pathologic stage, number of axillary nodes with tumor deposits, tumor size, histologic type and grade, or hormone receptor levels. In the node-positive group, high TCD level was associated with HER-2/neu amplification. After a median follow-up duration of 31 months, univariate analysis indicated that high TCD level was significantly associated with shorter DFS only in node-positive patients. The shorter DFS in association with high TCD levels was observed in both estrogen-receptor-positive and -negative patients. Cox multivariate analysis of DFS confirmed that high TCD level was predictive of shorter DFS in node-positive patients only. Because of the short duration of follow-up, the significance of TCD in overall survival was not determined. We conclude that high tumor TCD in node-positive patients is predictive of shorter DFS, and is often associated with HER-2/neu amplification. The possibility exists that high tumor TCD may act in combination with HER-2/neu amplification to promote dissemination of metastases.

Respiratory tract infections due to Branhamella catarrhalis: epidemiological data from Western Australia

During a 3-year period Branhamella catarrhalis was isolated in significant numbers from 239 (1.3%) of 19,488 specimens of sputum sent for routine microbiological examination at a 700-bed general hospital. The majority of patients (83%) were over 60 years of age and 65% were male. There was a distinct seasonal variation in isolations with a peak incidence during the winter and early spring, a pattern not found with other pathogens. Susceptibility to amoxycillin decreased by approximately 50% over the 3 years, corresponding to an increased incidence of beta-lactamase-producing strains. There were minimal changes in susceptibility to other antimicrobial agents. Underlying pulmonary disease was the major factor predisposing to B. catarrhalis infection, and 71% of patients were smokers or ex-smokers.

The effects of task complexity on motor performance in left and right CVA patients

The effects of task complexity on movement ipsilateral to lesion were examined using the Fitts tapping task [Fitts, P.M., J. exp. Psychol. 47, 381-391, 1954]. Subjects were required to rapidly tap two targets, which were 1 or 4 cm wide. Twenty controls and ten left hemisphere and nine right hemisphere stroke patients were studied. Only the left hemisphere group showed significant deficits with greater impairment found in the wide target condition. Quantified CT scan analyses indicated lesion volume was similar between CVA groups, but the left hemisphere group's lesions were more anterior. The results are discussed in terms of inter- and intrahemispheric roles in open and closed loop movements.

Stuttering: disappearance and reappearance with acquired brain lesions

Despite 60 years of study, the brain mechanisms for stuttering are unknown. In an effort to shed light on these mechanisms, we studied two cases in which the fluency of speech changed after brain damage in adulthood. The first, an ambidextrous man, ceased to stutter after a head injury. The second, a converted left-handed man, experienced recurrence of childhood stuttering after a stroke.

Emergency resection in treatment of diverticular disease of colon complicated by peritonitis

Of a consecutive series of 25 patients with peritonitis secondary to colonic diverticular disease all, except one with faecal peritonitis, underwent some form of emergency resection.All the three patients with faecal peritonitis died, but the 22 with purulent peritonitis survived. The average duration of the emergency admission of the 22 survivors was 25.4 days, and in nine (41%) of them intestinal continuity had been restored by the end of that admission.Thus some form of emergency resection is the operation of choice in patients with spreading peritonitis due to diverticular disease of the sigmoid colon.

Spontaneous perforation of the caecum: case reports and a review of the literature

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