Gender-dependent hepatic alterations in H-ras12V transgenic mice.

Background/aims: Although it has been proposed that Ras and related signal pathways play important roles in hepatocarcinogenesis, appropriate in vivo models are lacking.

Methods: Two hepatocellular carcinoma lines were established using pronuclear microinjection techniques to create an insertion of the H-ras12V transgene under the control of the albumin enhancer/promoter. The resulting phenotypes and related molecular events were then examined.

Molecular cloning of the cDNA of canine homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2.

The research of p53 is being conducted to find the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and to treat various cancers. Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase2 (HIPK2) is an important factor to regulate p53 and to increase the stability of p53. Activation of HIPK2 leads to the selective phosphorylation of p53, resulting in growth arrest and the enhancement of apoptosis.

Tumor suppressor VDUP1 increases p27(kip1) stability by inhibiting JAB1.

Vitamin D3 up-regulated protein 1 (VDUP1) is a stress-response gene that is up-regulated by 1,25(OH)2D3 in many cells. It has been reported that VDUP1 expression is reduced in many tumor cells and the enforced expression of VDUP1 inhibits cell proliferation by arresting cell cycle progression. Here, we found that VDUP1-/- fibroblast cells proliferated more rapidly compared with wild-type cells with reduced expression of p27(kip1), a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor.

Association between iris constitution and apolipoprotein e gene polymorphism in hypertensives.

Objective: Iridology is a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that involves the diagnosis of medical conditions by noting irregularities of the pigmentation in the iris. Iris constitution has a strong familial aggregation and heredity is implicated. Apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene polymorphism is one of the most well-studied genetic markers for vascular diseases, including hypertension.

Interleukin-1 beta gene polymorphism related with allergic pathogenesis in Iris constitution.

Iridological constitution has a strong familial aggregation and is implicated in heredity. The aetiology of inflammatory bowel disease is still unknown. However, from genetic epidemiological studies there is considerable evidence that genetic factors are associated with both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Suppression of nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB and nuclear factor of activated T cells by Younggaechulgam-tang.

Younggaechulgam-tang (YGCGT) is known to suppress inflammatory and autoimmune responses, and it has clinically been used among Oriental medical doctors in South Korea. We investigated YGCGT-mediated changes in downstream T cell signal transduction. The expression levels of nuclear factor-kappaB (NFkappaB) subunit RelA and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFATc1) in cytoplasm and nucleus were examined by western blot analysis.

Effect of Boo Yong-Tang on mast cell-mediated allergic reaction.

Boo Yong-Tang (BYT) is an Oriental herbal prescription, which has been clinically applied for treatment of allergic disorders. Here, we report inhibitory effects of BYT on experimental allergic reactions. BYT increased interferon-gamma secretion from MOLT-4 T cells.

Thioredoxin modulates activator protein 1 (AP-1) activity and p27Kip1 degradation through direct interaction with Jab1.

Thioredoxin (Trx) is a cellular redox enzyme that plays multiple roles in regulating cell growth and apoptosis. Jun activation domain-binding protein 1 (Jab1) was originally identified as a coactivator of activator protein 1 (AP-1) transcription and was also shown to promote degradation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p27Kip1. Recently, Jab1 expression was associated with the progression and poor prognosis of pituitary, epithelial ovarian, and breast cancers, suggesting that it plays a role in oncogenesis.

Substituent-dependent photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer in N-aryl-substituted trans-4-aminostilbenes.

The photochemical behavior of trans-4-(N-arylamino)stilbene (1, aryl = 4-substituted phenyl) in solvents more polar than THF is strongly dependent on the substituent in the N-aryl group. This is attributed to the formation of a twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) state for those with a methoxy (1OM), methoxycarbonyl (1CO), or cyano (1CN) substituent but not for those with a methyl (1Me), hydrogen (1H), chloro (1Cl), or trifluoromethyl (1CF) substituent. On the basis of the ring-bridged model compounds 3-6, the TICT states for 1CN and 1CO result from the twisting of the anilino-benzonitrilo C-N bond, but for 1OM it is from the twisting of the stilbenyl-anilino C-N bond, both of which are distinct from the TICT states previously proposed for N,N-dimethylaminostilbenes.

Spectroscopic correlations between supermolecules and molecules. Anatomy of the ion-modulated electronic properties of the nitrogen donor in monoazacrown-derived intrinsic fluoroionophores.

The synthesis, absorption and emission spectra, fluorescence quantum yields, and fluorescence lifetimes of three compound series of trans-4,4'-disubstituted aminostilbenes (1-3) are reported. The chromo-/fluoroionophoric behavior of the monoaza-15-crown-5- (A15C5) and monoaza-18-crown-6 (A18C6)-derived species (1A(5)()-3A(5)() and 1A(6)()-3A(6)()) in acetonitrile and dichloromethane are also investigated. Great similarities in electronic spectroscopic properties (chemical shifts, wavelength, intensity, and lifetime) between the metal ion-complexed supermolecules and the corresponding chloro-substituted molecules have been observed: namely, 1A(5)()/Ca(2+)-3A(5)()/Ca(2+) approximately 1A(6)()/Ba(2+)-3A(6)()/Ba(2+) approximately 1C-3C in acetonitrile and 1A(5)()/Na(+)-2A(5)()/Na(+) approximately 1A(6)()/K(+)-2A(6)()/K(+) approximately 1C-2C in dichloromethane.

Origin of the N-methyl and N-phenyl substituent effects on the fluorescence vibronic structures of trans-4-aminostilbene and its derivatives in hexane.

The origin of the N-substituent effect on the room temperature fluorescence vibronic structures of trans-4-aminostilbene (1), its disubstituted derivatives (2 and 3), and the fused-ring analogs (4) in hexane has been investigated. The fluorescence spectra of aminostilbenes 1-4 in hexane are structured and the intensity ratio of the 0,1 vs. the 0,0 band decreases upon N-methyl or N-phenyl substitution, indicating that the N-substituents reduce the displacement in the equilibrium configuration (deltaQe) between the ground and the excited states.

Allergens causing atopic diseases in canine.

Canine atopic skin disease is seasonal or sometimes non-seasonal immune-mediated skin disease which occurs commonly in Korea. The definite clinical sign is systemic pruritus, especially on periocular parts, external ear, interdigit spaces and lateral flank. For diagnosis of this dermatitis, complete history taking followed by intradermal skin test and serum in vitro IgE test needs to be performed.

Novel effects of On-Chung-Eum, the traditional plant medicine, on cytokine production in human mononuclear cells from Behçet's.

Plant medications have been used as treatment in various kinds of systemic inflammatory disorder such as Behçet's disease (BD). We investigated the roles of On-Chung-Eum (OCE), a traditional plant medicine, in cytokine regulation of BD. The effects of OCE on cytokine production from phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of Behçet's patients and control subjects were measured by ELISA.

Prevalence and clinical characterization of gastric Helicobacter species infection of dogs and cats in Korea.

This study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence and clinical characterizations of gastric Helicobacter spp. infection of dogs and cats in Korea. The prevalence of Helicobacter spp.

Inhibition of cytokine production by the traditional oriental medicine, 'Gamcho-Sasim-Tang' in mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Adamantiades-Behçet's patients.

Gamcho-Sasim-Tang (GS-Tang) is a traditional Chinese medication, which has been successfully used in Korea for the treatment of Adamantiades-Behçet's disease (ABD). We investigated the modulation effects of GS-Tang on cytokine production from phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of Behçet's patients. ABD is a systemic inflammatory disorder and might involve immune dysfunction.

MR cholangiography versus cholangioscopy for evaluation of longitudinal extension of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: The utility of magnetic resonance cholangiography for assessment of longitudinal tumor extension of hilar cholangiocarcinoma was investigated with reference to findings by percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy.

Methods: Ninety-nine patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma underwent both magnetic resonance cholangiography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy. Longitudinal tumor extension was described with the Bismuth-Corlette classification.

Novel findings in inhibition of mast cell-dependent immediate-type cutaneous reactions by Gahmi-Shini-San.

This report describes an inhibitory effect of Gahmi-Shini-San (GSS) on mast cell-mediated immediate-type allergic reactions. GSS is an Oriental herbal medication, which has been successfully used in Korea for the treatment of allergic disorders, mainly skin anaphylactic diseases. GSS inhibited the ear swelling response induced by intradermal injection of compound 48/80 in a mouse model on a concentration-dependent basis.

Cu2+-induced blue shift of the pyrene excimer emission: a new signal transduction mode of pyrene probes.

A pentiptycene-bispyrenyl system (1) has been synthesized and investigated as a fluorescent chemosensor for metal ions. A novel blue shift along with an intensity enhancement of the pyrene excimer emission is observed for 1 in the presence of Cu(2+). Such a new signal transduction mode of pyrene probes results from the formation of a static pyrene excimer that has very different characteristics from its dynamic counterpart.

Effects of autogenous toxoid-bacterin in lactating cows with Staphylococcus aureus subclinical mastitis.

To evaluate clinical effects of autogenous toxoid-bacterin treatment for Staphylococcus aureus subclinical mastitis in lactating cows, 22 cows which had at least one S. aureus infected quarter were selected from among cows at a S. aureus prevalent dairy farm.

The nitric oxide-producing properties of Solanum lyratum.

We examined the effect of Solanum lyratum Thunb. (Solanaceae) (SL) on the production of nitric oxide (NO). Stimulation of mouse peritoneal macrophages with SL after the treatment of recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) resulted in increased NO synthesis.

Shini-san inhibits mast cell-dependent immediate-type allergic reactions.

Shini-San has been used for treatment of allergic disease in Korea. However, its effect in experimental models remains unknown. The mast cell plays a pivotal role in initiating allergic response by secreting intracytoplasmic granular mediators such as histamine.

Activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase by Yongdam-Sagan-Tang in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

The objective of the current study was to determine the effect of Yongdam-Sagan-Tang (YS-Tang) on the production of nitric oxide (NO). Stimulation of mouse peritoneal macrophages with YS-Tang after the treatment of recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) resulted in increased NO synthesis. YS-Tang had no effect on NO synthesis by itself.

Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation of the phalanx: report of a case.

Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation is a rare bone lesion. We report a case from a 47-year-old female patient who had pain and swelling of the right index finger for two months. On the basis of the frozen section diagnosis of benign lesion, probably myositis ossificans, she received tumor excision and has been free of recurrence in two years and ten months duration since.