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Myoung-Ki Baek,1,* Jong-Hwa Lee,2,* Young-Ho Cho,3 Hak-Hyung Kim,4 Gye-Won Lee3 1Life Science R&D Park, SK Biopharmaceuticals Co, LTD, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; 2Toxicology Center, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; 3Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Konyang University, Nonsan, Republic of Korea; 4R&D Center, Pharvis Korea Pharm, Ansan, Republic of Korea *These authors contributed equally to this workAbstract: The purpose of the present investigation was to develop and evaluate a self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) for improving the oral absorption of a pranlukast hemihydrate (PLH), a very poorly water-soluble drug. An efficient self-microemulsifying vehicle for PLH was selected and optimized using solubility testing and phase diagram construction. The formulations were characterized by assessing self-emulsification performance, droplet size analysis, in vitro drug release characteristics and formulation stability studies. Optimized formulations for in vitro dissolution and bioavailability assessment were Triethylcitrate (TEC; 10%), Tween 20 (50%), Span 20 (25%), triethanolamine (5%), and benzyl alcohol (10%). The SMEDDS readily released the lipid phase to form a fine oil-in-water microemulsion with a narrow distribution size. Saturated solubilities of PLH from SMEDDS in water, pH 4.0 and 6.8, were over 150 times greater than that of plain PLH. The release of 100% PLH from SMEDDS was considerably greater compared to only 1.12% in simulated intestinal fluid (pH 6.8) from plain PLH after 2 hours. The PLH suspension with 0.5% sodium carboxymethylcellulose or 3% PLH-loaded SMEDDS was administrated at a dose of 40 mg/kg as PLH to fasted rats. The absorption of PLH from SMEDDS resulted in about a threefold increase in bioavailability compared with plain PLH aqueous suspension. Our studies illustrated that the potential use of the new SMEDDS can be used as a possible alternative to oral delivery of a poorly water-soluble drug such as PLH.Keywords: pranlukast hemihydrates, PLH, SMEDDS, bioavailability, solubility

This paper introduces an approach to the automated measurement and analysis of dairy cows using 3D point cloud technology. The integration of advanced sensing techniques enables the collection of non-intrusive, precise data, facilitating comprehensive monitoring of key parameters related to the health, well-being, and productivity of dairy cows. The proposed system employs 3D imaging sensors to capture detailed information about various parts of dairy cows, generating accurate, high-resolution point clouds. A robust automated algorithm has been developed to process these point clouds and extract relevant metrics such as dairy cow stature height, rump width, rump angle, and front teat length. Based on the measured data combined with expert assessments of dairy cows, the quality indices of dairy cows are automatically evaluated and extracted. By leveraging this technology, dairy farmers can gain real-time insights into the health status of individual cows and the overall herd. Additionally, the automated analysis facilitates efficient management practices and optimizes feeding strategies and resource allocation. The results of field trials and validation studies demonstrate the effectiveness and reliability of the automated 3D point cloud approach in dairy farm environments. The errors between manually measured values of dairy cow height, rump angle, and front teat length, and those calculated by the auto-measurement algorithm were within 0.7 cm, with no observed exceedance of errors in comparison to manual measurements. This research contributes to the burgeoning field of precision livestock farming, offering a technological solution that not only enhances productivity but also aligns with contemporary standards for sustainable and ethical animal husbandry practices.

The rapid evolution of 3D technology in recent years has brought about significant change in the field of agriculture, including precision livestock management. From 3D geometry information, the weight and characteristics of body parts of Korean cattle can be analyzed to improve cow growth. In this paper, a system of cameras is built to synchronously capture 3D data and then reconstruct a 3D mesh representation. In general, to reconstruct non-rigid objects, a system of cameras is synchronized and calibrated, and then the data of each camera are transformed to global coordinates. However, when reconstructing cattle in a real environment, difficulties including fences and the vibration of cameras can lead to the failure of the process of reconstruction. A new scheme is proposed that automatically removes environmental fences and noise. An optimization method is proposed that interweaves camera pose updates, and the distances between the camera pose and the initial camera position are added as part of the objective function. The difference between the camera's point clouds to the mesh output is reduced from 7.5 mm to 5.5 mm. The experimental results showed that our scheme can automatically generate a high-quality mesh in a real environment. This scheme provides data that can be used for other research on Korean cattle.

The stability of cultivation and production in terms of crop yield has been threatened by climate change due to global warming. Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is a threat to crops, especially staple foods, including rice, because of reductions in yield and quality. To address the problem of precocious germination before harvest, we performed quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis for PHS using F 8 RILs populations derived from japonica weedy rice in Korea. QTL analysis revealed that two stable QTLs, qPH7 and qPH2 , associated with PHS resistance were identified on chromosomes 7 and 2, respectively, explaining approximately 38% of the phenotypic variation. The QTL effect in the tested lines significantly decreased the degree of PHS, based on the number of QTLs included. Through fine mapping for main QTL qPH7 , the region for the PHS was found to be anchored within 23.575-23.785 Mbp on chromosome 7 using 13 cleaved amplified sequence (CAPS) markers. Among 15 open reading frames (ORFs) within the detected region, one ORF, Os07g0584366, exhibited upregulated expression in the resistant donor, which was approximately nine times higher than that of susceptible japonica cultivars under PHS-inducing conditions. Japonica lines with QTLs related to PHS resistance were developed to improve the characteristics of PHS and design practical PCR-based DNA markers for marker-assisted backcrosses of many other PHS-susceptible japonica cultivars., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Lee, Park, Baek, Jeong, Seo and Kim.)

Grain shape is one of the key factors deciding the yield product and the market value as appearance quality in rice ( Oryza sativa L.). The grain shape of japonica cultivars in Korea is quite monotonous because the selection pressure of rice breeding programs works in consideration of consumer preference. In this study, we identified QTLs associated with grain shape to improve the variety of grain shapes in Korean cultivars. QTL analysis revealed that eight QTLs related to five tested traits were detected on chromosomes 2, 5, and 10. Among them, three QTLs- qGL2 (33.9% of PEV for grain length), qGW5 (64.42% for grain width), and qGT10 (49.2% for grain thickness)-were regarded as the main effect QTLs. Using the three QTLs, an ideal QTL combination ( qGL2 P + qGW5 P + qGT10 B ) could be constructed on the basis of the accumulated QTL effect without yield loss caused by the change in grain shape in the population. In addition, three promising lines with a slender grain type were selected as a breeding resource with a japonica genetic background based on the QTL combination. The application of QTLs detected in this study could improve the grain shape of japonica cultivars without any linkage drag or yield loss.

Bacterial blight (BB) disease, caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae ( Xoo ), is among the major factors that can cause rice yields to decrease. To address BB disease, researchers have been looking for ways to change pesticides and cultivation methods, but developing resistant cultivars is the most effective method. However, the resistance and genetic factors of cultivars may be destroyed due to the emergence of new Xoo species caused by recent and rapid climate changes. Therefore, breeders need to identify resistance genes that can be sustained during unpredictable climate changes and utilized for breeding. Here, qBBR11 , a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for resistance to BB disease, was detected in KJ (Korea Japonica varieties) 11_067 to KJ11_068 on chromosome 11 in a population derived by crossing JJ (Jeonju) 623 and HR(High resistant)27,195, which possess similar genetic backgrounds but different degrees of resistance to BB disease. qBBR11 was reduced from 18.49-18.69 Mbp of chromosome 11 to 200 kbp segment franked. In this region, 16 candidate genes were detected, and we identified 24 moderate-impact variations and four high-impact variations. In particular, high-impact variations were detected in Os11g0517800 which encode the domain region of GCN2 which is the eIF-2-alpha kinase associated with the resistance of abiotic/biotic stress in rice. In JJ623, which is moderately resistant to BB disease, a stop codon was created due to single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Therefore, compared with HR27195, JJ623 has weaker resistance to BB disease, though the two have similar genetic backgrounds. The results suggest that variation in the qBBR11 region regulates an important role in improving resistance to BB diseases, and qBBR11 is useful in providing an important resource for marker-assisted selection to improve mechanisms of resistance to BB disease.

Background: The exploitation of useful genes through interspecific and intersubspecific crosses has been an important strategy for the genetic improvement of rice. Postzygotic reproductive isolation routinely occurs to hinder the growth of pollen or embryo sacs during the reproductive development of the wide crosses., Result: In this study, we investigated the genetic relationship between the hybrid breakdown of the population and transferred resistance genes derived from wide crosses using a near-isogenic population composed of 225 lines. Five loci (qSS12, qSS8, qSS11, ePS6-1, and ePS6-2) associated with spikelet fertility (SF) were identified by QTL and epistatic analysis, and two out of five epistasis interactions were found between the three QTLs (qSS12, qSS8 and qSS11) and background marker loci (ePS6-1 and ePS6-2) on chromosome 6. The results of the QTL combinations suggested a genetic model that explains most of the interactions between spikelet fertility and the detected loci with positive or negative effects. Moreover, the major-effect QTLs, qSS12 and qSS8, which exhibited additive gene effects, were narrowed down to 82- and 200-kb regions on chromosomes 12 and 8, respectively. Of the 13 ORFs present in the target regions, Os12g0589400 and Os12g0589898 for qSS12 and OS8g0298700 for qSS8 induced significantly different expression levels of the candidate genes in rice at the young panicle stage., Conclusion: The results will be useful for obtaining a further understanding of the mechanism causing the hybrid breakdown of a wide cross and will provide new information for developing rice cultivars with wide compatibility., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: Rice is one of the few cereals consumed as a whole grain, and therefore the appearance of the final milled product, both before and after cooking, strongly influences the consumer's perception of product quality. Matching consumer preference for rice grain quality is a key component of rice variety development programs, as the quality drives demand, which in turn drives variety adoption, market price, and profitability. The quality of cooked rice is normally evaluated indirectly, through measurement of key elements driving quality as well as more directly by sensory evaluation, but remains a complex trait conditioned by the genetic complexity of factors driving quality, changes wrought by environment, and the complexity of consumer preferences., Result: In this study, we evaluated 17 traits, including the taste value obtained by glossiness of cooked rice (TV), to explain rice eating quality by statistical methods and identified QTLs associated with TV. To explain the correlation among traits, exploratory factor analysis was performed for 2 years. The overall eating quality (OE) was correlated with TV and protein content loading at the same factor (PA1) in 2017, and there was a relationship between the OE (PA1) and the TV (PA2) in 2018 (PA1:PA2, r = 0.3). In QTL analysis using 174 RILs, three QTLs for TV derived from Wandoaengmi6 were detected on chromosomes 4, 6, and 9. The QTL qTV9 delimited within Id9007180 and 9,851,330 on chromosome 9 was detected in both years, explaining approximately 17% of the variation, on average. Through the use of fine mapping, qTV9 was delimited to an approximately 34-Kbp segment flanked by the DNA markers CTV9_9 and CTV9_13, and nine ORFs were listed in the target region as candidate genes associated with TV. In the evaluation of qTV9's effect on OE, the lines with qTV9 showed a significant increase in correlation coefficiency compared to the negative lines. These data will apply to functional analysis on the glossiness and the MAS breeding program to improve the eating quality of japonica as a donor line., Conclusion: In this paper we report a number of QTL associated with changes in glossiness of cooked rice, and these may have utility in the development of MAS in breeding programs with a specific focus on cooked grain quality.

Although skin depression after parotidectomy affects the patient's satisfaction with cosmesis we know of little research about it, so we attempted to alleviate it by inserting human acellular dermal matrix (hADM) after the operation. We made a retrospective analysis of the casenotes of 63 patients who were diagnosed with parotid tumours and were operated on between January 2015 and December 2016. Factors that affect satisfaction with cosmesis, including the use of hADM, sex, age, incision, size of tumour, sample size, complications, and the name of the surgeon were recorded and evaluated on a scale from 1 (most unsatisfactory) to 10 (very satisfactory), and the satisfaction according to each factor was compared. The mean (SD) follow-up period was 13 (6) months, and 19 of the 63 patients developed complications. Satisfaction was significantly better when hADM had been inserted (p=0.0008), when the patient was female (p=0.033), or there were no complications p=0.0161). On linear regression analysis, all three factors showed a significant causal relation with satisfactory cosmesis. Insertion of hADM after operations on the parotid gland seems to be effective in improving this by preventing skin depression., (Copyright © 2019 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background/aims: There is uncertainty about how to measure outcomes reported by patients in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This study was conducted to develop an instrument and to determine of the definition of respondent for a patient reported outcomes to assess the efficacy of a treatment used for GERD treatment., Methods: A structural process has developed a self-evaluation questionnaire for GERD (SEQ-GERD); health-related quality of life questionnaire for GERD (GERD-QOL) was translated through cross-cultural validation. Two-week reproducibility was evaluated and construct validity was assessed by correlating the SEQ-GERD with the Patient Assessment of Gastrointestinal Disorders (PAGI-SYM), the reflux disease questionnaire (RDQ), and GERD-QOL. Changes in SEQ-GERD scores were compared to assess the discriminative validity following 4 weeks of proton pump inhibitor administration., Results: A total of 83 Korean patients were included (mean age 46 ± 14 years, females 61.4%). The internal consistency of the 19-item SEQ-GERD was good (alpha = 0.60-0.94) and the test-retest reliability was high (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.67-0.95). The SEQ-GERD highly correlated with the GERD domain of the PAGI-SYM (correlation coefficient r = 0.894, P < 0.001), the RDQ-GERD ( r = 0.877, P < 0.001), and GERD-QOL ( r = -0.536, P < 0.05). SEQ-GERD scores significantly varied according to the overall treatment effectiveness scale of drug responsiveness and significantly decreased after drug treatment (mean differences according to the overall treatment effectiveness scale, P = 0.020)., Conclusion: This study supports that SEQ-GERD is reliable and valid, and can be used to evaluate the treatment response in patients with GERD.

The toxicological evaluation of potential drug candidates is very important in the preclinical phase of drug development. Toxic materials may cause serious decline in stem cell function and loss of stemness. Indeed, we found that toxic exposure more profoundly suppressed the growth of stem cells than terminally differentiated fibroblasts. Importantly, toxic exposure suppressed stem cell migration and multi-lineage differentiation potential in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, early-response genes involved in stem cell properties such as self-renewal and differentiation capabilities can be used as specific markers to predict toxicity. In the present study, we also identified a labile toxic response gene, SERPINB2, which is significantly increased in response to various toxic agents in human stem cells in vitro and in vivo. Consistently, self-renewal, migration, and multi-lineage differentiation potential were markedly decreased following SERPINB2 overexpression. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to focus on the functions of SERPINB2 on the regenerative potential of stem cells in response to various existing chemicals, and the findings will facilitate the development of promising toxicity test platforms for newly developed chemicals.

Ultrasonography is highly sensitive for the diagnosis of sialoliths. Recently, wireless mobile ultrasonography was developed. We describe the case of a 49-year-old man who presented with painful postprandial left cheek swelling. Computed tomography detected a solitary 5-mm parotid duct stone with infection at the anterior portion of the left masseter muscle. Transoral stone removal was planned, although difficulty was expected in view of the surrounding infection. Surgery was performed under the guidance of mobile ultrasonography, and the stone was removed safely.

Objective: Subglottic stenosis remains a clinical challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) in rat model of subglottic stenosis., Subjects and Methods: Ninety-six 13-week-old male rats were enrolled in this study. They were divided into 3 groups as normal control (NC) group, a subglottic injury and media injection (SM) group, and a subglottic injury and media-stem cell injection (SMSC) group. The hAMSCs were immediately injected into subglottis after injury. Histologic characteristics of subglottis; the mRNA expressions of interleukin-1β, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor growth factor-β and basic fibroblast growth factor; and hAMSCs' survival were evaluated., Results: The hAMSCs survived in the subglottis of the rat until 10 days after implantation. The NC and SMSC groups had a significantly wider subglottic lumen and thinner lamina propria than the SM group at 56 days after injury. Collagen intensity of subglottis was significantly higher in the SM group than in the NC and SMSC groups at 28 days after injury. Gene expression didn't show significant difference between the SM group and the SMSC group., Conclusions: The hAMSCs injection was found to be helpful for preventing subglottic stenosis in a rat model.

Objectives: Previously the authors reported age-related changes in the activities of anti-oxidative enzyme activities and protein expressions in the tongues of rats. Because more information is required about relations between aging and oxidative stress and anti-oxidative enzyme efficiency, the authors investigated differences between the expression of master regulator of anti-oxidative enzymes (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 [Nrf2]), levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial structures in the tongues of young and aged Fischer 344 rats., Methods: Age-dependent changes in Nrf2 protein and ROS were determined by Western blotting and using chemical kits, respectively. Tongue specimens were examined by electron microscopy. The study was conducted using rats aged 7 months (young, n=8) or 22 months (old, n=8)., Results: Nrf2 protein levels in the tongues of aged rats were lower than in young rats. ROS levels were higher in older rats and mitochondrial structural deficits were observed their tongues. Three young rats showed moderate mitochondrial degeneration, whereas profound degeneration with mitochondrial cristae disruption, swelling, rupture, or intramitochondrial vacuole formation was observed in all 8 old rats. Notably, mitochondrial rupture was observed in 5 old rats., Conclusion: Antioxidant defense systems of old rats were compromised by Nrf2 deficiency, which could lead to the deleterious accumulation and release of ROS and probably mitochondrial structural deficits in aged tongue tissues.

Objective: To report the case of a 58-year-old man with a zygomatic arch fracture, which was well localized and reduced using a surgical navigation system., Methods: In this clinical report, the authors suggest intraoperative surgical navigation systems are useful diagnostically and for localizing sites of zygomatic arch fractures., Results: The patient underwent successful closed reduction of zygomatic arch fractures using a surgical navigation system., Conclusions: Surgical navigation is a useful tool for identifying the locations of zygomatic arch fractures and for guiding closed reduction. Surgical navigation is recommended for localizing the sites of zygomatic fractures.

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the long-term results using the technique of canal wall up mastoidectomy and reconstruction of the posterior canal wall using bone pâté and auricular cartilage in the treatment of chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma., Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 42 patients who underwent canal wall up mastoidectomy and posterior canal wall reconstruction at a single institution between November 2005 and November 2012., Results: Of the 42 patients, postoperative tympanic membranes were normal in 38 (90.5%), perforated in 1 (2.4%), and retracted in 3 (7.1%). Mean preoperative and postoperative values of the air-bone gap (ABG) were 29.4±12.8 and 23.4±11.7 dB, respectively, which represented a significant average improvement. For patients with ossiculoplasty (n=24), the mean preoperative and postoperative ABG values were 34.7±6.0 and 27.5±8.0 dB, respectively, which also represented a significant average improvement. Thirty-one (73.8%) of the patients were followed up without any complication, but 5 had otorrhea (11.9%), 4 had dizziness (9.5%), and 2 had facial palsy (4.8%)., Conclusion: A canal wall up mastoidectomy with reconstruction of the posterior canal wall using auricular cartilage and bone pâté provides successful preservation of the anatomic structure and a significant improvement in hearing without the long-term disadvantages of a canal wall down mastoidectomy.

Objectives: Antioxidative enzyme efficiency changes in some organs with age. However, no study has been conducted on age-related antioxidant enzyme changes in tongue. In the present study, the authors investigated the activities of four antioxidative enzymes and their protein expressions in the tongues of young and old Fischer 344 rats., Methods: Age-dependent changes in the enzyme activities of total superoxide dismutase (SOD), Mn-SOD, Cu/Zn-SOD, catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were determined using chemical kits, and the protein expressions levels of these enzymes by Western blotting. The study was conducted using rats aged 7 months (the young group, n=8) and 22 months (the old group, n=8)., Results: Total SOD, Cu/Zn-SOD, and GPx activities in the tongues of old rats were lower than in young rats, and similarly, corresponding protein expressions were downregulated in old rats. On the other hand, although the protein expressions of Mn-SOD and CAT were lower in old rats, their enzyme activities were not., Conclusion: The results of this study provide a possible mechanism for the tongue aging process, as in old Fischer 344 rats the antioxidant defense system was diminished with respect to enzyme activity levels and protein abundances., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Background: As the global population ages, disabling hearing impairment (HI) have been increased rapidly. The impact of HI on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is of great importance to aid the development of strategic plans and to guide therapeutic interventions., Purpose: To evaluate HRQoL in Korean adults with different degrees of HI using EuroQol five-dimensional (EQ-5D) and EQ-visual analogue scale (VAS), the preference-based generic measures of HRQoL., Methods: Using a representative dataset from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from January 2010 to December 2012, EQ-5D questionnaire and EQ- VAS scores of subjects with HI were compared with those of subjects without HI. Logistic regression analysis, with adjustment for covariates, was used to evaluate the impact of HI on HRQoL scales. HI was defined according to the hearing thresholds of pure-tone averages at 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 kHz of the better hearing ear as follows; mild HI (26 to < 40 dB) and moderate to severe HI (≥ 40 dB)., Results: Of the 16,449 Korean adults in KNHANES (age, 45.0 ± 0.2 years; male, 49.7%), 1757 (weighted prevalence, 7.6%) had mild HI and 890 (3.6%) had moderate to severe HI. Subjects with HI had impaired HRQoL as compared with subjects without HI (EQ-5D, 0.96 ± 0.00 vs. 0.88±0.00 vs. 0.86 ± 0.01 for control vs. mild HI vs. moderate to severe HI, p < 0.001; EQ-VAS, 75.10 ± 0.18 vs. 67.48 ± 0.63 vs. 66.24 ± 0.92 for control vs. mild HI vs. moderate to severe HI, p < 0.001). After adjusting for socio-demographic factors (age, gender, household income, education level, presence of spouse) and health-related behaviors (smoking status, alcohol intake, regular exercise), psychological stress, and the presence of comorbidities (diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, decreased eGFR, and tinnitus), EQ-VAS remained impaired in the moderate to severe HI group (61.72±1.69) as compared with the control group (65.68 ± 1.26, p = 0.004), but EQ-5D impairment disappeared (0.86 ± 0.02 vs.0.88±0.01 for moderate to severe HI vs. control, p = 0.058)., Conclusion: After adjusting for socio-demographic and psychosocial factors and comorbidities, Korean adults with moderate to severe HI rated their health statuses lower than subjects without HI., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Interleukin (IL)-32β can act as either pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokines with being dependent on the status of disease development. Herein, we investigated whether IL-32β overexpression changes cytokine levels and affects amyloid-beta (Aβ)-induced pro-inflammation in the brain. IL-32β transgenic (Tg) mice and non-Tg mice were intracerebroventricularly infused with Aβ1-42 once a day for 14 days, and then cognitive function was assessed by the Morris water maze test and passive avoidance test. Our data showed that IL-32β Tg mice increased memory impairment, glia activation, amyloidogenesis, and neuroinflammation. The expression of glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), Iba1, and β-secretase 1 (BACE1) in the cortex and hippocampus was much higher in the Aβ1-42-infused IL-32β Tg mice brain. The activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) was much higher in Aβ1-42-infused IL-32β Tg mice brain. We also found that cytokines including IP-10, GM-CSF, JE, IL-13, and interferone-inducible T cell α chemoattractant (I-TAC) were elevated in Aβ1-42-infused IL-32β Tg mice brain. These results suggest that IL-32β could activate NF-κB and STAT3, and thus affect neuroinflammation as well as amyloidogenesis, leading to worsening memory impairment.

On average, ectopic thyroids are positioned in the embryotic decent path that emerges as a lingual thyroid or a thyroglossal duct cyst. It is uncommon for ectopic thyroids to be located in the lateral neck, which only represents 1%-3% of all cases. Any ectopic thyroids that emerge in the posterior lateral neck in pediatric patients should be regarded as an extremely unique case. We report a 13-year-old boy with ectopic thyroid tissue in the cervical lymph nodes with orthotopic euthyroid thyroid. The masses were located on the left posterior triangle area, which were confirmed as histologic benign thyroid tissue without any malignancy in the head and neck. Authors suggest that this case supports the benign lymphatic transport theory of lateral ectopic thyroid.

Purpose: Despite a recent surge in the performance of laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS), concerns remain about performing LESS pyeloplasty (LESS-P) because of the technical difficulty in suturing. We report our techniques and initial experiences with LESS-P using additional needlescopic instruments and compare the results with conventional laparoscopic pyeloplasty (CL-P)., Materials and Methods: Nine patients undergoing LESS-P were matched 2:1 with regard to age and side of surgery to a previous cohort of 18 patients who underwent CL-P. In both groups, the operating procedures were performed equally except for the number of access points. In the LESS-P group, we made a single 2 cm incision at the umbilicus and used a homemade port. We also used additional 2 mm needlescopic instruments at the subcostal area to facilitate suturing and the ureteral stenting., Results: The preoperative characteristics were comparable in both groups. Postoperatively, no significant differences were noted between the LESS-P and CL-P cases in regard to length of stay, estimated blood loss, analgesics required, and complications. But, LESS-P was associated with a shorter operative time (252.2 vs. 309.7 minutes, p=0.044) and less pain on postoperative day one (numeric rating scale 3.7 vs. 5.6, p=0.024). The success rate was 94% with CL-P (median, 23 months) and 100% with LESS-P (median, 14 months)., Conclusions: Our initial experiences suggest that LESS-P is a feasible and safe procedure. The use of additional 2 mm instruments can help to overcome the difficulties associated with LESS surgery.

In the absence of a reference genome, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) discovery in a group of abalone species was undertaken by random sequence assembly. A web-based interface was constructed, and 11 932 DNA sequences from the genus Haliotis were assembled, with 1321 contigs built. Of these, 118 contigs that consisted of at least ten annotation groups were selected. The 1577 putative SNPs were identified from the 118 contigs, with SNPs in several HSP70 gene contigs confirmed by PCR amplification of an 809-bp DNA fragment. SNPs in the HSP70 gene were compared across eight abalone species. A total of 129 polymorphic sites, including heterozygote sites within and among species, were observed. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial HSP70 gene region showed separation of the tested abalone into two groups, one reflecting the southern hemisphere species and the other the northern hemisphere species. Interestingly, Haliotis iris from New Zealand showed a closer relationship to species distributed in the northern Pacific region. Although HSP genes are known to be highly conserved among taxa, the validation of polymorphic SNPs from HSP70 in this mollusc demonstrates the applicability of cross-species SNP markers in abalone and the first step towards universal nuclear markers in Haliotis., (© 2010 NFRDI, Animal Genetics © 2010 Stichting International Foundation for Animal Genetics.)

Background: The purpose of our study was to determine the efficacy of a management algorithm that includes negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in diabetic feet with limb-threatening infection., Materials and Methods: Forty-five septic diabetic feet were treated with NPWT between 2006 and 2008. After emergent abscess evacuation, early vascular intervention was performed if necessary. Debridement, with or without partial foot amputation, was followed by NPWT. Wound progress was measured using a digital scanner. A limb was considered salvaged if complete healing was achieved without any or with minor amputation through or below the ankle. The mean followup after complete wound healing was 17 (range, 6 to 35) months., Results: Thirty-two cases (71%) were infected with two or more organisms. Negative pressure wound therapy was applied for 26.2±14.3 days. The median time to achieve more than 75% wound area granulation was 23 (range, 4 to 55) days and 104 (range, 38 to 255) days to complete wound healing. Successful limb salvage was achieved in 44 cases (98%); 14 (31%) without any amputation and 30 (67%) with partial foot amputations. Total number of operations per limb was 2.4±1.3. One case of repeated infection and necrosis was managed with a transtibial amputation. There were no complications associated with NPWT., Conclusion: This study provides the outcome of a management algorithm which includes NPWT in salvaging severely infected diabetic feet. With emergent evacuation of abscess, early vascular intervention and appropriate debridement, NPWT can be a useful adjunct to the management of limb-threatening diabetic foot infections.

Since maxillofacial injury is frequently accompanied by other diseases, its evaluation and treatment are open delayed. When the evaluation is delayed, the surgical treatment can be difficult or impossible. A 21-yr-old man presented with right facial swelling and deformity after injury. We planned immediate surgical repair for his right tetrapod fracture, but the operation was delayed for two months due to severe hyperthyroidism. During the operation, we reducted and fixed the deviated bone after refracture of the zygomatic arch with an osteotome to achieve mobility. The facial deformity and difficulty in mouth opening were improved after the operation. Even in the presence of accompanying fractures, early evaluation and proper management can prevent complications and achieve acceptable cosmetic outcomes in maxillofacial trauma patients. In patients with malunion of fracture sites, fixation after refracture using an osteotome can be a good treatment option for obtaining good mobility.

The secondary bile acid lithocholic acid (LCA) induced expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and enhanced cell invasiveness in colon cancer cells. A dominant negative mutant or a specific inhibitor of MEK-1 suppressed LCA-induced uPAR expression. Deletions and site-directed mutagenesis revealed that the AP-1 site was required for LCA-induced uPAR transcription. LCA-mediated enhanced cell invasiveness was partially abrogated by uPAR neutralizing antibody and inhibitors of both Erk-1/2 and AP-1. These results suggest that LCA induces uPAR expression via Erk-1/2 and AP-1 pathway and, in turn, stimulate invasiveness of human colon cancer cells., (2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To evaluate the causes, treatment modalities and recovery rate of paediatric facial nerve paralysis., Materials and Methods: We analysed 24 cases of paediatric facial nerve paralysis diagnosed in the otolaryngology department of Gachon University Gil Medical Center between January 2001 and June 2006., Results: The most common cause was idiopathic palsy (16 cases, 66.7 per cent). The most common degree of facial nerve paralysis on first presentation was House-Brackmann grade IV (15 of 24 cases). All cases were treated with steroids. One of the 24 cases was also treated surgically with facial nerve decompression. Twenty-two cases (91.6 per cent) recovered to House-Brackmann grade I or II over the six-month follow-up period., Conclusion: Facial nerve paralysis in children can generally be successfully treated with conservative measures. However, in cases associated with trauma, radiological investigation is required for further evaluation and treatment.

The mechanisms involving the inhibitory effects of ascorbic acid (AA) on carcinogenesis have not fully defined, except for its free-radical scavenging activity against oxidative DNA damage. In this study, we examined the effects of AA on the expression of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-regulated gene cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1), which catalyzes the activation of genotoxic metabolites that can lead to mutagenesis. Cultured human HepG2 cells were incubated with AA with or without the potent AhR agonist/CYP1A1 inducer 2,3,7,8-tetrachloridibenxo-p-dioxin (TCDD). AA was highly effective at suppressing CYP1A1 induction following coincubation of the cells with 1nM TCDD. The preventive effects of AA were seen at the level of mRNA and protein expression as well as CYP1A1-specific 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity. A transient transfection assay using a dioxin response element (DRE)-linked luciferase reporter and an electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that AA reduced the amount of AhR that could form a complex with the DRE sequence in the promoter region of the CYP1A1 gene. In addition, AA inhibited the TCDD-induced Ecto-ATPase activity, which is known to be requiring for AhR translocation to the nucleus. These results suggest that AA may exert at least part of its anticarcinogenesis effect by controlling the expression of CYP1A1 at the transcription level.

Resveratrol, a grape polyphenol, is thought to have anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and cancer preventive properties. However, the mechanisms by which resveratrol might produce these effects are not clearly defined. A study was performed on whether resveratrol could prevent tumor cells from adhering to endothelial cells, which is an essential step during tumor metastasis. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induced human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells to adhere to endothelial ECV304 cells. Resveratrol inhibited PMA-induced HT1080 cells adhesion in a dose-dependent manner. To further study the mechanisms of this resveratrol-mediated blockade of tumor cell adhesion, the expression of the cell adhesion molecules intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin were examined. PMA induced ICAM-1 expression in HT1080 cells. In contrast, the expression of VCAM-1 and E-selectin were not altered by PMA treatment. The increase in tumor cell adhesion to endothelial cells following PMA treatment was partially inhibited by ICAM-1 siRNA or neutralizing antibodies. Resveratrol reduced the PMA-induced ICAM-1 expression in HT1080 cells as determined by RT-PCR, flow cytometry and ELISA. As the induction of ICAM-1 requires activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB, the effects of resveratrol on the activation of this factor in HT1080 cells was also investigated. Resveratrol inhibited the PMA-induced NF-kappaB activation and NF-kappaB-dependent luciferase activity. These results suggest that resveratrol may exert an antimetastatic effect by inhibiting NF-kappaB activation and ICAM-1 expression, leading to suppression of tumor cell adhesion to endothelial cells.

Overexpression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) have been observed in human gastric cancers. However, the interaction between EGF and uPAR in gastric cancer has not been well elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effect of EGF on uPAR expression and the underlying signal pathways in human gastric cancer AGS cells. EGF induced uPAR mRNA expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. EGF also induced uPAR promoter activity. In addition, EGF induced the activation of extracellular signal regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK-1/2) and P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) but not the activation of c-Jun amino terminal kinase. A specific inhibitor of MEK-1 (an upstream effector of ERK-1/2) and a dominant negative MEK-1 were able to suppress the EGF-induced uPAR promoter activity. Site-directed mutagenesis and electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that the binding sites of transcription factors, activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, are involved in the EGF-induced uPAR transcription. Suppression of the EGF-induced uPAR promoter activity by the AP-1 decoy oligonuclotide, as well as expression vectors encoding mutated-type NF-kappaB-inducting kinase and I-kappaB, confirmed that the activation of AP-1 and NF-kappaB are essential for the EGF-induced uPAR upregulation. The AGS cells pretreated with EGF showed a remarkably enhanced invasiveness and this effect was partially abrogated by uPAR neutralizing antibodies and by the inhibitors of ERK-1/2, AP-1, and NF-kappaB. The above results suggest that EGF induces uPAR expression via ERK-1/2, AP-1, and NF-kappaB signaling pathways and, in turn, stimulates cell invasiveness in human gastric cancer AGS cells.

There is a strong correlation between the overexpression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and gastric cancer invasion. This study examined the effect of phospholipid lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) on uPAR expression in human gastric cancer AGS cells and the underlying signal transduction pathways. Treating human gastric AGS cells with LPA induced the expression of uPAR mRNA and promoter activity in both a time- and dose-dependent manner. Small interfering RNA targeting for LPA receptors, dominant negative Rho-family GTPase (RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42) and an expression vector encoding a mutated c-jun (TAM67) partially blocked the LPA-induced uPAR expression. Site-directed mutagenesis and electrophoretic mobility shift studies showed that the transcription factors activation protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB are essential for the LPA-induced uPAR transcription. In addition, AGS cells treated with LPA showed enhanced invasion, which was partially abrogated by the uPAR-neutralizing antibodies and inhibitors of Rho kinase, JNK, and NF-kappaB. This suggests that LPA induces uPAR expression through the LPA receptors, Rho-family GTPase, JNK, AP-1 and NF-kappaB signaling pathways, which in turn stimulates the cell invasiveness of human gastric cancer AGS cells.

Licochalcones have a variety of biological properties including anti-tumor, anti-parasitic and anti-bacterial activities. Recently, a new retrochalcone (licochalcone E, Lico-E) was isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza inflata (Chem. Pharm. Bull., 53, 2005, Yoon et al.) by cytotoxicity-guided fractionation. This study examined whether or not Lico-E-induced endothelial cell death occurs through apoptosis, and investigated molecular mechanisms involved in this process. Lico-E was found to suppress ECV304 cell growth and induce apoptosis. The induction of apoptosis by Lico-E was confirmed by the ladder-patterned DNA fragmentation, the presence of cleaved and condensed nuclear chromatin and the increased number of annexin V-positive cells. Lico-E could effectively inhibit the constitutive NF-kappaB activation, as revealed by the electrophoretic mobility shift assay and NF-kappaB-dependent luciferase reporter study. In addition, the Lico-E treatment caused a change in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio that favored apoptosis. These results suggest that Lico-E induces endothelial cell apoptosis by modulating NF-kappaB and the Bcl-2 family.

The overexpression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is closely related to tumor cell invasion. Therefore, strategies for down-regulating uPAR expression may be of clinical utility. This study examined the effects of triptolide, which is a diterpenoid triepoxide extracted from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F., on the induction of uPAR in human gastric cancer AGS cells. Triptolide inhibited the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced uPAR mRNA and protein expression in a dose-dependent manner, and reduced the uPAR transcriptional activity. The stability of the uPAR transcripts was not altered by the triptolide treatment. The signals involved in uPAR induction by PMA were investigated to determine the mechanisms for the triptolide-mediated regulation of uPAR. The inhibitors of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (Erk-1/2, PD98059), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK, SP600125) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB, Bay11-7082) inhibited the PMA-induced expression of uPAR, which suggests that PMA induces uPAR through multiple signals. Triptolide suppressed the PMA-induced activation of NF-kappaB but not Erk-1/2 and JNKI The inhibitory effect of triptolide on the activation of NF-kappaB was confirmed by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay and NF-kappaB dependent transcription studies. AGS cells treated with PMA showed a remarkably enhanced invasiveness, which was partially abrogated by triptolide and uPAR-neutralizing antibodies. This suggests that triptolide may exert at least part of its anti-invasive effect in gastric cancer by controlling the expression of uPAR through the suppression of NF-kappaB activation.

The gastric pathogen, helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), has been associated with the progression of gastric cancer. It was previously reported that H. pylori induced urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) expression and stimulated cell invasiveness in human gastric cancer AGS cells. However, the precise mechanisms for how H. pylori upregulates uPAR are unclear. This study investigated the underlying signal pathways in H. pylori-induced uPAR in human gastric cancer AGS cells. The intracellular H2O2 content, as determined using H2O2-sensitive probe 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein, increased after the H. pylori treatment. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, prevented the H. pylori-induced production of H2O2 and uPAR expression. In addition, exogenous H2O2 was found to increase uPAR mRNA expression and its promoter activity. Site-directed mutagenesis of the potential NF-kappaB element in the uPAR promoter showed that the redox-sensitive transcription factor NF-kappaB was essential for H. pylori-induced uPAR expression. The expression of vectors encoding a mutated-type NF-kappaB-inducing kinase and I-kappaB, and a specific inhibitor of NF-kappaB (BAY11-7082) decreased the H. pylori-induced uPAR promoter activity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and the electrophoretic mobility shift assay confirmed that H. pylori increased the DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB. With the aid of NAC and H2O2, it was determined that reactive oxygen species (ROS) is an upstream signaling molecule for activating the NF-kappaB induced by H. pylori. The enhanced AGS cell invasiveness by H. pylori was partially abrogated by an NAC and BAY11-7082 treatment. These results suggest that the ROS and NF-kappaB signaling pathway is important in H. pylori-induced uPAR expression and the increased cell invasiveness of human gastric cancer AGS cells.