17β-estradiol reduces inflammation and modulates antioxidant enzymes in colonic epithelial cells

Background/Aims: Estrogen is known to have protective effect in colorectal cancer development. The aims of this study are to investigate whether estradiol treatment reduces inflammation in CCD841CoN, a female human colonic epithelial cell line and to uncover underlying mechanisms of estradiol effects. Methods: 17 beta-Estradiol (E2) effect was measured by Western blot after inducing inflammation of CCD841CoN by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). Expression levels of estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) and beta (ER beta), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and NAD(P)H-quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1) were also evaluated. Results: E2 treatment induced expression of ERO but did not increase that of ER alpha. E2 treatment for 48 hours significantly elevated the expression of anti-oxidant enzymes, HO-1 and NQO-1. TNF-alpha treatment significantly increased the level of activated NF-kappa B (p < 0.05), and this increase was significantly suppressed by treatment of to nM of E2 (p < 0.05). E2 treatment ameliorated TNF-alpha-induced COX-2 expression and decrease of HO-1 expression. 4-(2-phenyl-5,7-bis(trifluoromethyl) pyrazolo(1,5-a)pyrimidin-3-yl)phenol (PHTPP), antagonist of ER beta, removed the inhibitory effect of E2 in the TNF-alpha-induced COX-2 expression (p = 0.05). Conclusions: Estrogen seems to inhibit inflammation in female human colonic epithelial cell lines, through down-regulation of NF-kappa B and COX-2 expression and induction of anti-oxidant enzymes such as HO-1 and NQO-1.

The Clinical Usefulness of 18F-FDG PET/CT for the Evaluation of Lymph Node Metastasis in Periorbital Malignancies

PURPOSE: Surgical treatment of malignancies in the oral cavity and subsequent radiotherapy often result in an oral condition unfavorable for prosthodontic rehabilitation. This study assessed the quality of life related to oral function in edentulous head and neck cancer patients following oncology treatment of malignancies in the lower region of the oral cavity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients treated between 1990 and 2000 with surgery and radiotherapy for a squamous cell carcinoma in the oral cavity who were edentulous in the mandible and had been treated with a conventional, non-implant-retained denture received an invitation for a clinical check-up (clinical assessment, questionnaires regarding oral function and quality of life). RESULTS: Sixty-seven of the 84 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were willing to participate in the study. The mean irradiation dosage that these patients had received in the oral region was 61.8 +/- 5.4 Gy. Half of the patients (n=33) were not very satisfied with their prostheses; they wore their mandibular prostheses at most a few hours per day. It was concluded from the clinical assessment that two thirds of the patients (n 4) could benefit from an implant-retained mandibular denture. Analyses of the questionnaires revealed no significant associations between functional assessments, quality of life, and parameters such as size of the primary tumor, location of the primary tumor, and different treatment regimes. Despite cancer treatment, the patients reported a rather good general quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Sequelae resulting from radiotherapy probably dominate oral function and quality of life after oncology treatment. In two thirds of the patients, improvement of oral function and related quality of life would be expected with the use of an implant-retained mandibular denture

Lattice-patterned LC-polymer composites containing various nanoparticles as additives

In this study, we show the effect of various nanoparticle additives on phase separation behavior of a lattice-patterned liquid crystal [LC]-polymer composite system and on interfacial properties between the LC and polymer. Lattice-patterned LC-polymer composites were fabricated by exposing to UV light a mixture of a prepolymer, an LC, and SiO2 nanoparticles positioned under a patterned photomask. This resulted in the formation of an LC and prepolymer region through phase separation. We found that the incorporation of SiO2 nanoparticles significantly affected the electro-optical properties of the lattice-patterned LC-polymer composites. This effect is a fundamental characteristic of flexible displays. The electro-optical properties depend on the size and surface functional groups of the SiO2 nanoparticles. Compared with untreated pristine SiO2 nanoparticles, which adversely affect the performance of LC molecules surrounded by polymer walls, SiO2 nanoparticles with surface functional groups were found to improve the electro-optical properties of the lattice-patterned LC-polymer composites by increasing the quantity of SiO2 nanoparticles. The surface functional groups of the SiO2 nanoparticles were closely related to the distribution of SiO2 nanoparticles in the LC-polymer composites, and they influenced the electro-optical properties of the LC molecules. It is clear from our work that the introduction of nanoparticles into a lattice-patterned LC-polymer composite provides a method for controlling and improving the composite's electro-optical properties. This technique can be used to produce flexible substrates for various flexible electronic devices

Clinical Progress of Epilepsy in Children with Tuberous Sclerosis: Prognostic Factors for Seizure Outcome

The incidence and outcome of epilepsy in tuberous sclerosis (TS) patients have not yet been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and prognosis of epileptic seizures associated with TS. The medical records of 29 patients who satisfied the diagnostic criteria for TS and were followed up for at least 2 years at the Department of Pediatrics, Chonnam National University Hospital (CNUH), between January 2000 and December 2010 were reviewed. Onset age of seizure, initial electroencephalography (EEG) findings, and efficacy of treatment were evaluated. Brain imaging studies were reanalyzed to determine the number of cortical tubers and subependymal nodules present. A total of 26 (89.6%) cases presented with seizures. In the seizure-controlled group (n=9, 34.6%), the mean number of cortical tubers was 4.5 (range, 0-16) and the mean number of subependymal nodules was 6.2 (range, 0-14). Initial EEG identified epileptiform discharges in 4 (44.5%) of these cases. In the seizure-sustained group (n=17, 58.6%), 10 patients had initial seizures before 1 year of age. In this group, the mean number of cortical tubers was 6.0 (range, 0-20) and the mean number of subependymal nodules was 6.0 (range, 1-11). A total of 15 (88.2%) had epileptiform discharges on their initial EEGs. In three patients who did not show any seizures during the observation period, the mean number of cortical tubers was 1.3 (range, 0-2), and the mean number of subependymal nodules was 4.6 (range, 0-13). Medical intractability of epilepsy in conjunction with TS did not correlate with age at onset of seizure, the number of cortical tubers, or subependymal nodules, but was associated with initial EEG findings

Performance of the tuberculin skin test and interferon-γ release assay for detection of tuberculosis infection in immunocompromised patients in a BCG-vaccinated population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) may improve diagnostic accuracy for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). This study compared the performance of the tuberculin skin test (TST) with that of IGRA for the diagnosis of LTBI in immunocompromised patients in an intermediate TB burden country where BCG vaccination is mandatory.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a retrospective observational study of patients given the TST and an IGRA, the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-IT), at Severance Hospital, a tertiary hospital in South Korea, from December 2006 to May 2009.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 211 patients who underwent TST and QFT-IT testing, 117 (55%) were classified as immunocompromised. Significantly fewer immunocompromised than immunocompetent patients had positive TST results (10.3% vs. 27.7%, p 0.001), whereas the percentage of positive QFT-IT results was comparable for both groups (21.4% vs. 25.5%). However, indeterminate QFT-IT results were more frequent in immunocompromised than immunocompetent patients (21.4% vs. 9.6%, p 0.021). Agreement between the TST and QFT-IT was fair for the immunocompromised group (κ = 0.38), but moderate agreement was observed for the immunocompetent group (κ = 0.57). Indeterminate QFT-IT results were associated with anaemia, lymphocytopenia, hypoproteinemia, and hypoalbuminemia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In immunocompromised patients, the QFT-IT may be more sensitive than the TST for detection of LTBI, but it resulted in a considerable proportion of indeterminate results. Therefore, both tests may maximise the efficacy of screening for LTBI in immunocompromised patients.</p

Antiatherosclerotic Effect of Korean Red Ginseng Extract Involves Regulator of G-Protein Signaling 5

Regulator of G-protein signaling 5 (RGS5), an inhibitor of Gα(q) and Gα(i) activation, has been reported to have antiatherosclerosis. Previous studies showed antiatherosclerotic effect of Korean red ginseng water extract (KRGE) via multiple signaling pathways. However, potential protective effect of KRGE through RGS5 expression has not been elucidated. Here, we investigated the antiatherosclerotic effect of KRGE in vivo and in vitro and its role on RGS5 mRNA expression. Elevated levels of total cholesterol, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and triglyceride (TG) in western diet groups of low-density lipoprotein receptor deficient LDLr−/− mice were reversed by oral administration of KRGE. KRGE suppressed transcriptional activity of tumor necrotic factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and leptin in adipose tissue. It also potently repressed western diet-induced atheroma formation in aortic sinus. While KRGE showed reduced mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, it enhanced mRNA expression of RGS5. Moreover, RGS5 siRNA transfection of microglia cells pretreated with KRGE reversed its inhibitory effect on the expression of iNOS, COX-2, and IL-1β mRNA. In conclusion, KRGE showed antiatherosclerotic and anti-inflammatory effects in western diet fed LDLr−/− mice and this effect could partly be mediated by RGS5 expression