The Effects of an Extract of Atractylodes Japonica Rhizome, SKI3246 on Gastrointestinal Motility in Guinea Pigs

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There are limited therapeutic options available for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D). We tested the effects of Atractylodes japonica rhizome, a perennial plant native to North Asia, on both upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) motility in guinea pigs. METHODS: The extract of A. japonica rhizome was administered orally at different doses to test its effects on upper GI motility as determined from charcoal transit in native guinea pigs and in guinea pigs pretreated with thyrotropin-releasing hormone or mustard oil. Regarding its effect on lower GI motility, the removed guinea pig colon was suspended in a chamber containing Krebs-Henseleit solution and the transit time of artificial feces was measured with various dilutions of the extract. As for in vivo assay, weight and number of fecal pellets expelled were determined under the same drug preparation used in upper GI motility experiment. RESULTS: The extract of A. japonica rhizome had no significant effect on upper GI motility in either normal or altered physiological states. However, the extract increased colonic transit time in the in vitro model. In the fecal expulsion study, the cumulative weight and number of pellets did not differ significantly between the control group and groups treated with the extracts. In the animals pretreated in vivo with thyrotropin-releasing hormone, however, the weight and number of fecal pellets were sig-nificantly decreased in animals treated with 300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg doses of extract. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the extract of A. japonica rhizome can be a potential agent for IBS-D.ope

Esophageal cancer in esophageal diverticula associated with achalasia

The simultaneous occurrence of achalasia and esophageal diverticula is rare. Here, we report the case of a 68-year-old man with multiple esophageal diverticula associated with achalasia who was later diagnosed with early esophageal cancer. He initially presented with dysphagia and dyspepsia, and injection of botulinum toxin to the lower esophageal sphincter relieved his symptoms. Five years later, however, the patient presented with worsening of symptoms, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) was performed. The endoscopic findings showed multifocal lugol-voiding lesions identified as moderate dysplasia. We decided to use photodynamic therapy to treat the multifocal dysplastic lesions. At follow-up EGD 2 months after photodynamic therapy, more lugol-voiding lesions representing a squamous cell carcinoma in situ were found. The patient ultimately underwent surgery for the treatment of recurrent esophageal multifocal neoplasia. After a follow-up period of 3 years, the patient showed a good outcome without symptoms. To manage premalignant lesions such as achalasia with esophageal diverticula, clinicians should be cautious, but have an aggressive approach regarding endoscopic surveillance.ope

우리 나라 젊은 성인 남자에서 비알코올성 지방간질환의 임상 병리학적 특징

Dept. of Medicine/석사[한글]배경: 비알코올성 지방간질환 (NAFLD)은 과도한 알코올의 섭취 없이 나타나는 만성 간질환으로 최근 서구화된 식생활과 그 영향으로 인한 비만인구의 증가로 인해 우리 나라에서도 발병률이 증가하고 있다. 특히 비알코올성 지방간염 (NASH)은 간경변증이나 간암으로도 진행할 수 있어 본 질환의 중요성은 크다. 본 연구는 우리 나라의 젊은 성인 남자에서 NASH Clinical Research Network 의 진단기준에 의해 NASH로 진단한 환자들의 임상 및 병리학적 특징을 조사하였고 이를 Schwimmer등의 분류 기준에 따라 분류하여 본 질환의 임상 경과와 특성을 알아보고자 하였다. 방법: 간생검에서 비알코올성 지방간질환으로 진단받은 30세 이하(16-25세)의 젊은 성인 남자 (n=64)를 대상으로 나이, 체질량지수 (BMI), GOT/GPT, 총콜레스테롤, 중성지방, 공복 혈당, 임상적 소견들과 조직병리학적 소견들을 후향적으로 조사하였다. 조직학적 특성은 지방증 정도, 소엽의 염증 정도, 문맥 주위 염증 정도, 간세포의 ballooning degeneration과 간섬유화 정도를 측정하였다. 비알코올성 지방간염 (NASH)는 Kleiner DE 등이 제안한 NAFLD activity score (NAS)를 기준으로 진단하였다. NASH 환자들은 Schwimmer등의 분류법에 따라 adult type, pediatric type과 overlap type의 세 가지로 조직학적 분류하였다. 결과: 51명 (79.9%)이 비만하였고 높은 GOT/GPT 수치를 나타냈었다 (76.83 ± 44.6, 171.50 ± 114.89). 간생검 상 59명 (92.2%)이 NASH소견을 보였으며 29명 (45.3%)은 borderline NASH였고 30명 (46.9%)은 definite NASH였다. NASH로 진단된 군에서 NAS는 GOT/GPT와 양의 선형관계를 나타내었고 definite NASH군은 borderline NASH군에 비해 유의하게 GOT/GPT가 높았다. NASH군은 Schwimmer등의 분류에 따라 3가지 type으로 분류되었고, 17명 (28.8%)이 adult type, 4명 (6.8%)이 pediatric type 그리고 38명 (64.4%)이 overlap type이었다. NAS (평균 ± 표준편차)는 pediatric type이 3.75 ± 0.05, adult type 4.29 ± 1.16, overlap type 4.87 ± 1.21이었으며 overlap type은 pediatric type에 비해 NAS가 통계학적으로 의미있게 높았다 (p<0.01). 간섬유화의 경우 overlap type 중 36명 (94.7%)이 stage 2의 섬유화를 지녔으며, 4명의 모든 pediatric type (100%)과 adult type 15명 (88.2%)은 stage 1의 섬유화 정도를 보였다. Overlap type은 다른 type에 비해 유의하게 높은 섬유화 정도를 지녔다 (p<0.01). 지방증 정도와 소엽의 염증 정도를 포함한 다른 병리학적 특성들과 임상적 특징들은 세 군에서 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. 결론: 우리 나라 젊은 성인 남자에서 비알코올성 지방간염은 대부분 간생검상 borderline NASH나 definite NASH 소견을 보였다. NASH 중 절반 이상은 pediatric type와 adult type NASH의 특성을 모두 지닌 overlap type이였으며, 이 type은 pediatric type에 비해 높은 NAS와 섬유화 정도를 보였다. 이러한 소견들은 우리 나라 젊은 성인 남자에서 나타나는 overlap type NASH의 경우 소아 시기에서 발병하여 지속적으로 진행되고 있음을 제시하고 있다. [영문]Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease occurring without a significant alcohol consumption. Its prevalence is increasing in Korean society as a dietary pattern and life-style become more westernized and an obese population increases. Especially nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which has a potential to progress to liver cirrhosis or even hepatocellular carcinoma, holds considerable clinical significance. In this study, we examined clinicopathological features of NASH in Korean young men using a guideline presented by NASH Clinical Research Network and classifying according to the criteria suggested by Schwimmer et al. to understand the natures and clinical progression of NAFLD. Methods: 64 Korean young men under age 30 years (22.2 ± 2.75), diagnosed as NAFLD by a liver biopsy, were enrolled. Retrospectively, we reviewed age, BMI, GOT/GPT, total cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting plasma glucose and other clinical manifestations. Histologic findings were focused on the degrees of steatosis, lobular inflammation, periportal inflammation, hepatocellular ballooning and hepatic fibrosis. NASH was diagnosed by NAFLD activity score (NAS), proposed by Kleiner DE et al. In NASH patients, histopathological findings were classified into the three types; adult type, pediatric type and overlap type according to Schwimmer’s classification. Results: 51 cases (79.9%) were obese and had elevated GOT/GPT levels (76.83 ± 44.6, 171.50 ± 114.89). Pathological features of liver biopsy revealed NASH in most cases (59 cases, 92.2%) including 29 cases (45.3%) of borderline NASH and 30 cases (46.9%) of definite NASH. In this group, NAS and GOT/GPT levels had a positive linear correlation and the definite NASH group showed significantly high GOT/GPT levels compared to borderline NASH group. NASH group was further subclassified into three types according to Schwimmer’s criteria and there were 17 cases (28.8%) of adult type, 4 cases (6.8%) of pediatric type and 38 cases (64.4%) of overlap type. NAS (mean ± SD) was 3.75 ± 0.05 in pediatric, 4.29 ± 1.16 in adult type and 4.87 ± 1.21 in overlap type, and overlap type showed higher NAS than the pediatric type (p<0.01). Concerning on fibrosis, 36 cases (94.7%) of overlap type showed stage 2 and 3 cases (100%) of pediatric type and 15 cases (88.2%) of adult type showed stage 1. The stage of fibrosis is significantly higher in the overlap type than the other types (p<0.01). Other pathological features including steatosis and lobular inflammation showed no significant difference among three types and clinical features also showed no significant difference. Conclusion: Majority of Korean young men with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) turned out to have borderline or definite NASH based on the pathological features of liver biopsy. More than half of NASH cases showed overlap type of pediatric and adult NASH, which showed higher degree of NAS and fibrosis stage compared to pediatric type. These findings suggest that overlap type of NASH in Korean young men might be disease progression starting from pediatric period.ope

Method for manufacturing flexible electronics using LCP and flexible memory device using the same

ＬＣＰ를 이용한 플렉서블 전자소자 제조방법 및 이를 이용한 플렉서블 메모리 소자 제조방법이 제공된다. 본 발명에 따른 플렉서블 전자소자 제조방법은 희생기판 상에서 전자소자를 제조하는 단계; 상기 제조된 전자소자를 LCP 기판에 전사시키는 단계; 및 상기 전자소자 상에 LCP 코팅층을 형성시키는 단계를 포함하는 것을 특징으로 하며,본 발명에 따른 플렉서블 소자 제조방법 및 이를 이용한 플렉서블 메모리 소자 제조방법은 소자의 하부 기판 및 상부 코팅층으로 LCP를 사용한다. 따라서, 한 번의 고온 과정을 통하여 하부 기판과 상부 코팅층이 동시에 소자의 상, 하부와 접합되므로, 공정 경제적이다. 더 나아가, 코팅층으로 사용된 LCP의 우수한 방수성에 따라 본 발명에 따른 플렉서블 전자소자는 인체 내와 같은 용액 환경에서도 효과적으로 구동할 수 있다. 더 나아가 본 발명에 따라 제조된 플렉서블 소자는 높은 항복 전압 등의 우수한 전기적 특성을 나타낸다

3D cell printing of a vascularized airway-on-a-chip and its application to asthma disease modeling

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