Differential expression of pluripotent and germ cell markers in ovarian surface epithelium according to age in female mice

BACKGROUND: Many studies have proposed that putative ovarian stem cells (OSCs) derived from the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) layer of adult mammalian ovaries can produce oocytes. Few studies have reported that ovaries of aged mammalian females including mice and women possess rare premeiotic germ cells that can generate oocytes. However, no studies have reported the changes of OSCs according to the age of the female. Therefore, this study evaluated pluripotent and germ cell marker expression in the intact ovary, scraped OSE, and postcultured OSE according to age in female mice. METHODS: C57BL/6 female mice of 2 age groups (6-8 and 28-31 weeks) were superovulated by injection with 5 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG). Both ovaries were removed after 48 hours and scrapped to obtain OSE. Gene expressions of pluripotent (Oct-4, Sox-2, Nanog) and germ cell markers (c-Kit, GDF-9, and VASA) were evaluated by RT-PCR. VASA and GDF-9 were immune-localized in oocyte-like structures. RESULTS: Expressions of germ cell markers in the intact ovary were significantly decreased in aged females, whereas expressions of pluripotent markers were not detected, regardless of age. Scraped OSE expression of all pluripotent and germ cell markers, except for c-Kit, was similar between both age groups. Three weeks postcultured OSE had significantly decreased expression of GDF-9 and VASA , but not c-Kit, in old mice, as compared to young micehowever there was no difference in the expression of other genes. The number of positively stained Oct-4 by immunohistochemistry in postcultured OSE was 2.5 times higher in young mice than aged mice. Oocyte-like structure was spontaneously produced in postcultured OSE. However, while that of young mice revealed a prominent nucleus, zona pellucida-like structure and cytoplasmic organelles, these features were not observed in old mice. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that aged female mice have putative OSCs in OSE, but their differentiation potential, as well as the number of OSCs differs from those of young mice

Clinical and Epidemiological Factors Associated with Methicillin Resistance in Community-Onset Invasive Staphylococcus aureus Infections: Prospective Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in Korea

Successful empirical therapy of Staphylococcus aureus infections requires the ability to predict methicillin resistance. Our aim was to identify predictors of methicillin resistance in community-onset (CO) invasive S. aureus infections. Sixteen hospitals across Korea participated in this study from May to December 2012. We prospectively included cases of S. aureus infection in which S. aureus was isolated from sterile clinical specimens ≤72 hours after hospitalization. Clinical and epidemiological data were gathered and compared in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) cases. Community-associated (CA) infections were defined as in previous studies. In total, there were 786 cases of community-onset S. aureus infection, 102 (13.0%) of which were CA-MRSA. In addition to known risk factors, exposure to 3rd generation cephalosporins in the past 6 months [odds ratio (OR), 1.92295% confidence interval (CI), 1.176？3.142] and close contact with chronically ill patients in the past month (OR, 2.64795% CI, 1.189？5.891) were independent risk factors for MRSA infection. However, no clinical predictors of CA-MRSA were identified. Methicillin resistance, CO infection, and appropriateness of empirical antibiotics were not significantly related to 30-day mortality. MRSA infection should be suspected in patients recently exposed to 3rd generation cephalosporins or chronically-ill patients. There were no reliable predictors of CA-MRSA infection, and mortality was not affected by methicillin resistance

Significant simultaneous changes in serum CA19-9 and CA125 due to prolonged torsion of mature cystic teratoma of the ovary

Mature cystic teratoma is a common benign neoplasm of the ovary. Complications occur in approximately 20% of cases. Clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and imaging studies can assist in making a diagnosis of ovarian torsion of mature cystic teratoma. Furthermore, serum tumor markers may be helpful for diagnosing mature cystic teratoma and its torsion and, thus, can lead to early surgical intervention. A 56-year-old woman presented with a huge pelvic mass and pelvic pain. Serum CA19-9, CA125, and carcinoembryonic antigen levels were abnormally elevated at >700 U/ml, 282.5 U/ml, and 3.94 U/ml, respectively. The tumor was surrounded by extensive adhesions and showed inflammatory changes. The serum levels of these markers returned to normal levels after surger

A Comparative Study on the Efficacy of Solifenacin Succinate in Patients with Urinary Frequency with or without Urgency

OBJECTIVES: Patients with overactive bladder (OAB) often have trouble perceiving urgency because of difficulties in distinguishing between urgency and desire to void. Empirical antimuscarinic treatment of patients with frequency only may be reasonable if conservative management has failed. We compared the efficacy of solifenacin in patients with frequency with or without urgency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This multicenter, 12-week, open-label, comparative, non-inferiority clinical trial assessed whether the solifenacin efficacy for frequency without urgency is non-inferior to its efficacy for frequency with urgency. All patients had micturition frequency ≥ 8 voids/day with or without urgency. Primary efficacy variable: daily frequency change at 12 weeks relative to baseline. Secondary efficacy variables: change at 12 weeks relative to baseline in Patients' Perception of Bladder Condition (PPBC), OAB Symptom Score (OABSS), and Benefit, Satisfaction, Willingness to continue (BSW) questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the 286 enrolled patients, 240 (83.9%) completed the study (without urgency n = 115with urgency n = 125). Full dataset analysis revealed that the groups without and with urgency exhibited significant reductions in daily micturition frequency of -2.49 ± 0.35 (mean ± standard error) and -2.63 ± 0.37, respectively. The lower limit of the 95% two-sided CI of the comparison of the two group means was -1.14, which is smaller than the -0.8 margin of clinical equivalence. The two groups did not differ in improvement in PPBC, OABSS, or BSW scores. Both tolerated the treatment well. CONCLUSIONS: It was not possible to verify that the solifenacin efficacy for frequency alone was non-inferior to its efficacy for OAB. Nevertheless, solifenacin tended to be effective for frequency regardless of urgency

A Ciliated Cyst with Mullerian Differentiation Arising in the Posterior Mediastinum

Primary congenital mediastinal cysts are rare, have a broad range of etiologies, and can be bronchogenic, thymic, neuroenteric, or esophageal in origin[1]. Recently, Hattori[2] described the first case of a ciliated cyst of probable Mullerian origin arising in the posterior mediastinum, a so-called Hattori’s cyst. Since that time, several additional cases have been reported[3,4]. We found a posterior mediastinal cyst with Mullerian differentiation that was consistent with previous description of Hattori’s cyst. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Hattori’s cyst arising in the posterior mediastinum in Kore

담쟁이넝쿨: 완화의료센터 소식지

02 목차 03 여는글 04 완화의료 바로알기 06 2014년도 상반기 활동안내 11 완화의료팀원 수기 12 환우 및 가족의 편지 15 사별가족모임 16 호스피스 천사들 17 이용안내 18 후원자 명단 19 비정상의 정상화(국무조정실) 20 후원안내 및 재능기부 모

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)-induced bilateral acute angle closure glaucoma and transient myopia

A 27-year-old woman developed bilateral acute angle closure glaucoma (AACG) and transient myopia after taking oseltamivir for four days. On the fourth day, she received systemic and topical intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering agents, and IOP decreased in both eyes. However, her visual acuity was unchanged. A myopic shift of -5.25 D OD and -5.0 D OS was estimated to have occurred in the acute phase. A-scan ultrasonography and Pentacam showed markedly shallow anterior chambers and increased lens thickness. Ultrasound biomicroscopy revealed an annular ciliochoroidal effusion with forward displacement of the lens-iris diaphragm. Ciliochoroidal effusion and transient myopia were resolved after discontinuation of oseltamivir

The Role of TWIST in Ovarian Epithelial Cancers

BACKGROUND: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is associated with tumor hypoxia. EMT is regulated, in part, by the action of TWIST, which inhibits of E-cadherin expression and may interfere with the p53 tumor-suppressor pathway. METHODS: We examined the expression of TWIST, E-cadherin, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α), and p53 by immunohistochemistry in 123 cases of ovarian epithelial cancers (OEC) to evaluate the role of TWIST in OEC. We assessed the association between protein expression and clinicopathologic parameters. RESULTS: The expression of TWIST, E-cadherin, HIF1α, and p53 proteins was found in 28.5%, 51.2%, 35.0%, and 29.3% of cases, respectively. TWIST expression was associated with higher histologic grade and unfavorable survival. TWIST expression was correlated with HIF1α expression and reduced E-cadherin expression. The altered HIF1α/TWIST/E-cadherin pathway was associated with lower overall survival (OS), while the co-expression of TWIST and p53 was correlated with lower progression-free survival. In the multivariate analyses, TWIST expression was an independent prognostic factor for OS. CONCLUSIONS: Our data imply that TWIST expression could be a useful predictor of unfavorable prognosis for OEC. TWIST may affect the p53 tumor-suppressor pathway. Moreover, hypoxia-mediated EMT, which involves the HIF1α/TWIST/E-cadherin pathway may play an important role in the progression of OEC

Soluble alpha-Klotho as a Novel Biomarker in the Early Stage of Nephropathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE: Although α-klotho is known as an anti-aging, antioxidant, and cardio-renal protective protein, the clinical implications of soluble α-klotho levels in patients with diabetes have not been evaluated. Therefore, this study evaluated whether plasma and urinary α-klotho levels are associated with albuminuria in kidney disease in diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 147 patients with type 2 diabetes and 25 healthy control subjects were enrolled. The plasma and urine concentrations of α-klotho were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Plasma α-klotho (572.4 pg/mL [95% CI, 541.9-604.6 pg/mL] vs. 476.9 pg/mL [95% CI, 416.9-545.5 pg/mL]) and urinary α-klotho levels (59.8 pg/mg creatinine [95% CI, 43.6-82.0 pg/mg creatinine] vs. 21.0 pg/mg creatinine [95% CI, 9.7-45.6 pg/mg creatinine]) were significantly higher in diabetic patients than non-diabetic controls. Among diabetic patients, plasma α-klotho concentration was inversely associated with albuminuria stages (normoalbuminuria, 612.6 pg/mL [95% CI, 568.9-659.6 pg/mL], microalbuminuria, 551.8 pg/mL [95% CI, 500.5-608.3 pg/mL], and macroalbuminuria, 505.7 pg/mL [95% CI, 439.7-581.7 pg/mL] (p for trend ？= 0.0081), while urinary α-klotho levels were remained constantly high with increasing urinary albumin excretion. CONCLUSIONS: Soluble α-klotho levels in plasma and urine may be novel and useful early markers of diabetic renal injur

담쟁이넝쿨: 완화의료센터 소식지

04 여는말_부산지역암센터 정주섭 소장 05 Plus+완화의료 바로알기_마약성 진통제 07 완화의료센터 2013년도 하반기 활동안내 13 완화의료팀 수기_완화의료센터 김대숙 팀장 14 환우 및 가족의 편지 16 2013년도 하반기 사별가족모임 17 2013년도 하반기 호스피스 천사들 & 완화의료 서포터즈 18 완화의료센터 이용안내 19 2013년도 하반기 호스피스 후원회 후원자 명단 & 선종환우 20 후원안내&재능기부 모