Synergistic Effects of Hyaluronate - Epidermal Growth Factor Conjugate Patch on Chronic Wound Healing

The proteolytic microenvironment in the wound area reduces the stability and the half-life of growth factors in vivo, making difficult the topical delivery of growth factors. Here, epidermal growth factor (EGF) was conjugated to hyaluronate (HA) to improve the long-term stability against enzymatic degradation and the therapeutic effect by enhancing the biological interaction with HA receptors on skin cells. After the synthesis of HA-EGF conjugates, they were incorporated into a patch-type formulation for the facile topical application and sustained release of EGF. According to ELISA, the HA-EGF conjugates showed a long-term stability compared with native EGF. Furthermore, HA-EGF conjugates appeared to interact with skin cells through two types of HA and EGF receptors, resulting in a synergistically improved healing effect. Taken together, we could confirm the feasibility of HA-EGF conjugates for the transdermal treatment of chronic wounds.11Ysciescopu

Development of a Spirometry \u3cem\u3eT\u3c/em\u3e-score in the General Population

Background and objective: Spirometry values may be expressed as T-scores in standard deviation units relative to a reference in a young, normal population as an analogy to the T-score for bone mineral density. This study was performed to develop the spirometry T-score. Methods: T-scores were calculated from lambda-mu-sigma-derived Z-scores using a young, normal age reference. Three outcomes of all-cause death, respiratory death, and COPD death were evaluated in 9,101 US subjects followed for 10 years; an outcome of COPD-related health care utilization (COPD utilization) was evaluated in 1,894 Korean subjects followed for 4 years. Results: The probability of all-cause death appeared to remain nearly zero until -1 of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) T-score but increased steeply where FEV1 T-score reached below -2.5. Survival curves for all-cause death, respiratory death, COPD death, and COPD utilization differed significantly among the groups when stratified by FEV1 T-score (P \u3c 0.001). The adjusted hazard ratios of the FEV1 T-score for the four outcomes were 0.54 (95% confidence interval, 0.48–0.60), 0.43 (95% CI: 0.37–0.50), 0.30 (95% CI: 0.24–0.37), and 0.69 (95% CI: 0.59–0.81), respectively, adjusting for covariates (P \u3c 0.001). Conclusion: The spirometry T-score could predict all-cause death, respiratory death, COPD death, and COPD utilization

Verminoside from Pseudolysimachion rotundum var. subintegrum sensitizes cisplatin-resistant cancer cells and suppresses metastatic growth of human breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women and is associated with a high mortality rate. The majority of deaths resulting from breast cancer are attributable to metastatic growth; in addition, chemoresistance is a major concern in the treatment of patients with breast cancer. However, limited drugs are available for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. In this study, the chemoadjuvant effects of a methanolic extract from the leaves of Pseudolysimachion rotundum var. subintegrum (NC13) and an active component isolated from the plant, verminoside (Vms), were evaluated. Furthermore, their potent anti-metastatic activities were validated in vitro and in vivo in animal models. The anti-metastatic and chemosensitizing activities of NC13 and Vms on cisplatin treatment were found to be partly mediated by suppression of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of cancer cells. Collectively, our results implied that NC13 and its bioactive component Vms could be developed as effective chemoadjuvants in combination with conventional therapeutics

The Prevalence and Evolution of Anemia Associated with Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) may produce abnormalities in the peripheral blood, including anemia. However, the evolution of TB-associated anemia with short-term combination anti-TB chemotherapy has not been well elucidated. The aim of this study was to characterize TB-associated anemia by clarifying its prevalence, characteristics, and evolution, through involving large numbers of patients with TB. The medical records of adult patients with TB diagnosed between June 2000 and May 2001 were reviewed. Among 880 patients with TB, 281 (31.9%) had anemia on diagnosis of TB, however, the hemoglobin concentration was less than 10 g/dL in only 45 patients (5.0%). Anemia was more frequently associated with the female and old age. Good treatment response, young age (≤65 yr-old) and initial high hemoglobin were the predictive factor for resolution of anemia. In 202 patients with anemia (71.9%), anemia was normocytic and normochromic. During or after anti-TB treatment, anemia was resolved in 175 (64.6%) out of 271 patients without iron intake. The mean duration of resolution from the initiation of anti-TB treatment was 118.8±113.2 days. In conclusion, anemia is a common hematological abnormality in patients with TB and close observation is sufficient for patients with TB-associated anemia, because TB-associated anemia is usually mild and resolves with anti-TB treatment

Ectopic Hidradenoma Papilliferum of the Breast: Ultrasound Finding

Hidradenoma papilliferum (HP) is a benign neoplasm arising from mammary-like glands which typically involves the dermal layer of the female anogenital area. The prognosis for HP is good. Recurrence is unusual and is typically attributed to incomplete excision of the primary tumor. Malignant transformation is rare and HP of the breast has not yet been reported. Ectopic HP is usually solitary, small, and asymptomatic. It appears as a well-circumscribed, complex cystic mass in the dermis on ultrasound. We present a case of HP arising from the axillary tail of the breast

The Risk of Obstructive Lung Disease by Previous Pulmonary Tuberculosis in a Country with Intermediate Burden of Tuberculosis

We evaluated the effects of previous pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) on the risk of obstructive lung disease. We analyzed population-based, the Second Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001. Participants underwent chest X-rays (CXR) and spirometry, and qualified radiologists interpreted the presence of TB lesion independently. A total of 3,687 underwent acceptable spirometry and CXR. Two hundreds and ninty four subjects had evidence of previous TB on CXR with no subjects having evidence of active disease. Evidence of previous TB on CXR were independently associated with airflow obstruction (adjusted odds ratios [OR] = 2.56 [95% CI 1.84-3.56]) after adjustment for sex, age and smoking history. Previous TB was still a risk factor (adjusted OR = 3.13 [95% CI 1.86-5.29]) with exclusion of ever smokers or subjects with advanced lesion on CXR. Among never-smokers, the proportion of subjects with previous TB on CXR increased as obstructive lung disease became more severe. Previous TB is an independent risk factor for obstructive lung disease, even if the lesion is minimal and TB can be an important cause of obstructive lung disease in never-smokers. Effort on prevention and control of TB is crucial in reduction of obstructive lung disease, especially in countries with more than intermediate burden of TB

Multidrug-resistant Pulmonary Tuberculosis Among Young Korean Soldiers in a Communal Setting

The goal of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of first-line anti-tuberculosis drug resistance and risk factors associated with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) among young soldiers in the Korean military, which has a strict tuberculosis control program. All patients with culture-confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis during their service at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital from January 2001 to December 2006 were enrolled in the study. Drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated from 18 patients (12.2%) and multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis was isolated from 12 patients (8.1%). Previous treatment of tuberculosis and the presence of a cavity on the patient's chest computed tomography scan were associated with MDR TB; military rank, smoking habits, and positive acid-fast bacilli smears were not associated with MDR TB. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, previous treatment of tuberculosis was a significant independent risk factor for MDR TB (odds ratio 6.12, 95% confidence interval 1.53-24.46). The prevalence of drug resistant tuberculosis among young soldiers in the Korean military was moderately high and the majority of resistant cases were found in patients who had undergone previous treatment of tuberculosis. Based on our results, we suggest that relapsed tuberculosis cases within communal settings should be cautiously managed until the drug susceptibility tests report is completed, even if previous treatment results were satisfactory

Melatonin receptor 1 B polymorphisms associated with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Backgrounds</p> <p>Two SNPs in <it>melatonin receptor 1B </it>gene, <it>rs10830963 </it>and <it>rs1387153 </it>showed significant associations with fasting plasma glucose levels and the risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in previous studies. Since T2DM and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) share similar characteristics, we suspected that the two genetic polymorphisms in <it>MTNR1B </it>may be associated with GDM, and conducted association studies between the polymorphisms and the disease. Furthermore, we also examined genetic effects of the two polymorphisms with various diabetes-related phenotypes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 1,918 subjects (928 GDM patients and 990 controls) were used for the study. Two <it>MTNR1B </it>polymorphisms were genotyped using TaqMan assay. The allele distributions of SNPs were evaluated by <it>x</it>²models calculating odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and corresponding <it>P </it>values. Multiple regressions were used for association analyses of GDM-related traits. Finally, conditional analyses were also performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found significant associations between the two genetic variants and GDM, <it>rs10830963</it>, with a corrected <it>P </it>value of 0.0001, and <it>rs1387153</it>, with the corrected <it>P </it>value of 0.0008. In addition, we also found that the two SNPs were associated with various phenotypes such as homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function and fasting glucose levels. Further conditional analyses results suggested that <it>rs10830963 </it>might be more likely functional in case/control analysis, although not clear in GDM-related phenotype analyses.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There have been studies that found associations between genetic variants of other genes and GDM, this is the first study that found significant associations between SNPs of <it>MTNR1B </it>and GDM. The genetic effects of two SNPs identified in this study would be helpful in understanding the insight of GDM and other diabetes-related disorders.</p

Clinical Experiences of Fetal Ovarian Cyst: Diagnosis and Consequence

Ovarian cysts are the most frequent, prenatally diagnosed intra-abdominal cysts. Fetal ovarian cyst often presents complication such as torsion and seems to be an indication for surgical intervention. In this study, we reviewed pre- and post-natal medical records and ultrasonography of 17 fetuses that were diagnosed with ovarian cysts. In a total of 17 cases, postnatal surgery was performed in 7 infants. Of these cases, four cases of ovarian cyst torsion were confirmed. In the remaining 10 fetuses, one case regressed completely during pregnancy, and the other nine cases including two complex cysts resolve spontaneously after birth. Postnatal symptomatic cysts or cysts with a diameter greater than 5 cm that do not regress or enlarge should be treated, but uncomplicated asymptomatic cysts less than 5 cm in diameter should only be observed and reassessed by serial ultrasonography. If they regress spontaneously, no surgical intervention is necessary independent of their sonographic findings