Prediction of Gleason score upgrading in low-risk prostate cancers diagnosed via multi (> or = 12)-core prostate biopsy.

Objectives: A paucity of data exists on actual pathology of the contemporary patients strictly categorized as having low-risk prostate cancer. We tried to identify useful preoperative predictors of Gleason score upgrading in patients who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) for low-risk prostate cancer diagnosed via multi-core prostate biopsy.

Methods: A total of 203 patients who underwent radical RRP for low-risk prostate cancer, as defined by D'Amico et al.

Clinical significance of plasma and serum vascular endothelial growth factor in asthma.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a mediator of airway inflammation and remodeling in asthma.

Purpose: We investigated whether VEGF levels are elevated in plasma and serum obtained from patients with asthma and evaluated whether levels of plasma VEGF correlated with those of serum VEGF.

Methods: We measured levels of plasma and serum VEGF in patients with stable asthma or with acute asthma and examined the correlation between plasma and serum VEGF concentration with initial forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)).

The effect of continuous release of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rh-EGF) in chitosan film on full thickness excisional porcine wounds.

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the effect of continuously released recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rh-EGF) in chitosan film in full thickness porcine wounds. A total of 10 domestic pigs (Yorkshire species) weighing 18 to 22 kg between the ages of 50 to 60 days were used. The wounds were divided into 3 groups and treated selectively with rh-EGF in chitosan film (EGF 20 ug/wound/d), chitosan film without rh-EGF, or remained as the control group.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta inhibitor as a novel therapeutic agent in asthma.

Multiple signal transduction pathways are involved in airway inflammation with one of the key signalling pathways being phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). Numerous components of the PI3K pathway play an important role in the expression and activation of inflammatory mediators, inflammatory cell recruitment, immune cell function, airway remodelling and corticosteroid insensitivity in asthma. More recently studies exploring the specific roles of different PI3K catalytic subunit isoforms in asthma have been initiated.

Laparoscopic management of complications in gynecologic laparoscopic surgery: a 5-year experience in a single center.

Study Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic management of complications without conversion to laparotomy in gynecologic laparoscopic surgery.

Design: Retrospective clinical study (Canadian Task Force classification III).

Setting: University teaching hospital.

Laparoscopic removal of an intravesical foreign body after laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy: a case report and review of the literatures.

A foreign body in the bladder is a rare occurrence. Although most intravesical foreign bodies can be removed successfully using endoscopic transurethral extraction, suprapubic cystotomy may be required for the removal of large bodies. We report a case of an intravesical mass 8 cm in diameter that was successfully removed using laparoscopic cystotomy without further complications.

Prolonged antidiabetic effect of zinc-crystallized insulin loaded glycol chitosan nanoparticles in type 1 diabetic rats.

New basal insulin formulation was designed and their structural characteristics were investigated in vitro and biological activities in type 1 diabetic rats. Zinc-crystallized insulin was physically loaded into hydrophobically modified glycol chitosan (HGC) nanoparticles by a dialysis method. The series of insulin-HGC formulations were prepared with different feed weight ratio of insulin to HGC from 0.

Mast cells can mediate vascular permeability through regulation of the PI3K-HIF-1alpha-VEGF axis.

Rationale: Bronchial inflammation is usually accompanied by increased vascular permeability. Mast cells release a number of mediators that act directly on the vasculature, resulting in vasodilatation, increased permeability, and subsequent plasma protein extravasation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been implicated to contribute to asthmatic tissue edema through its effect on vascular permeability.

Craving for alcohol and food during treatment for alcohol dependence: modulation by T allele of 1519T>C GABAAalpha6.

Background: Craving for alcohol and food has been studied in association with alcohol dependence and eating disorders, respectively. One subclass of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, 1519T>C GABA(A)alpha6 has been reported to be associated with both alcohol dependence and weight gain. In this study, we hypothesized that patients being treated for alcohol dependence would report decreased craving for alcohol, but an increased craving for food during a 4-week treatment period.

Pregabalin and gabapentin inhibit substance P-induced NF-kappaB activation in neuroblastoma and glioma cells.

Pregabalin and gabapentin are lipophilic amino acid derivatives of gamma-amino butyric acid that show anticonvulsant and analgesic activity against neuropathic pain. In this study, we investigated their actions on substance P-induced NF-kappaB activation in human neuroblastoma and rat glioma cells. Pregabalin and gabapentin decreased substance P-induced NF-kappaB activation in these cells.

Revised Korean medication algorithm for bipolar disorder.

The rapid progress in treatments for bipolar disorder makes it necessary to revise the Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder (KMAP-BP) published in 2002. This study was performed to timely revise KMAP-BP 2002. A questionnaire comprising 37 questions and 645 treatment options was developed for surveying the opinions of Korean experts.

Angiopoietin-1 variant, COMP-Ang1 attenuates hydrogen peroxide-induced acute lung injury.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a crucial role in acute lung injury. Tissue inflammation, the increased vascular permeability, and plasma exudation are cardinal features of acute lung injury. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) has potential therapeutic applications in preventing vascular leakage and also has beneficial effects in several inflammatory disorders.

Laparoscopic-assisted staging surgery for Korean women with endometrial cancer.

Background And Objective: In recent years, the incidence of endometrial cancer has gradually increased in Korea, and the use of laparoscopically assisted staging surgery (LASS) is increasing in this field. We conducted this study to evaluate the feasibility of LASS in Korean women with endometrial cancer.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 35 Korean women with endometrial cancer who were managed laparoscopically.

Hydrophobically modified glycol chitosan nanoparticles-encapsulated camptothecin enhance the drug stability and tumor targeting in cancer therapy.

To prepare a water-insoluble camptothecin (CPT) delivery carrier, hydrophobically modified glycol chitosan (HGC) nanoparticles were constructed by chemical conjugation of hydrophobic 5beta-cholanic acid moieties to the hydrophilic glycol chitosan backbone. Insoluble anticancer drug, CPT, was easily encapsulated into HGC nanoparticles by a dialysis method and the drug loading efficiency was above 80%. CPT-encapsulated HGC (CPT-HGC) nanoparticles formed nano-sized self-aggregates in aqueous media (280-330 nm in diameter) and showed sustained release of CPT for 1 week.

Is incidental appendectomy necessary in women with ovarian endometrioma?

Background: Several studies reported that pathology of the appendix is frequently detected alongside endometriosis, especially with chronic pelvic pain. Furthermore, ovarian endometriosis is a marker of more extensive pelvic and intestinal disease.

Aims: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of incidental appendectomy in laparoscopic surgical treatment for ovarian endometrioma.

Laparoscopic management of adnexal tumours in post-hysterectomy women.

Background: Laparoscopy is becoming common for the management of complex benign gynaecological diseases, in which considerable adhesions are expected, thus making the laparoscopic surgery more difficult to perform.

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic surgery for adnexal tumours in post-hysterectomy women.

Methods: In a retrospective study, we reviewed and analysed 40 post-hysterectomy women who were treated surgically for benign ovarian tumours at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, from May 1999 to April 2007.

Antitumor efficacy of cisplatin-loaded glycol chitosan nanoparticles in tumor-bearing mice.

To make a tumor targeting nano-sized drug delivery system, biocompatible and biodegradable glycol chitosan (M(w)=250 kDa) was modified with hydrophobic cholanic acid. The resulting hydrophobically modified glycol chitosans (HGCs) that formed nano-sized self-aggregates in an aqueous medium were investigated as an anticancer drug carrier in cancer treatment. Insoluble anticancer drug, cisplatin (CDDP), was easily encapsulated into the hydrophobic cores of HGC nanoparticles by a dialysis method, wherein the drug loading efficiency was about 80%.

A novel thiol compound, N-acetylcysteine amide, attenuates allergic airway disease by regulating activation of NF-kappaB and hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in the pathogenesis of airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness. Recent studies have demonstrated that antioxidants are able to reduce airway inflammation and hyperreactivity in animal models of allergic airway disease. A newly developed antioxidant, small molecular weight thiol compound, N-acetylcysteine amide (AD4) has been shown to increase cellular levels of glutathione and to attenuate oxidative stress related disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis.

Blockade of airway inflammation and hyper-responsiveness by an angiopoietin-1 variant, COMP-Ang1.

Inflammation of the asthmatic airway is usually accompanied by increased vascular permeability and plasma exudation. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) has potential therapeutic applications in preventing vascular leakage. Recently, we developed a soluble, stable, and potent Ang1 variant, COMP-Ang1.

Change of connexin 37 in allergen-induced airway inflammation.

Gap junction channels formed with connexins directly link to the cytoplasm of adjacent cells and have been implicated in intercellular signaling. Connexin 37 (Cx37) is expressed in the gas-exchange region of the lung. Recently, Cx37 has been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disease.

Mouse Fkbp8 activity is required to inhibit cell death and establish dorso-ventral patterning in the posterior neural tube.

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are birth defects that can be disabling or lethal and are second in their prevalence after cardiac defects among major human congenital malformations. Spina bifida is a NTD where the spinal cord is dysplastic, and the overlying spinal column is absent. At present, the molecular mechanisms underlying the spinal bifida development are largely unknown.

PTEN down-regulates IL-17 expression in a murine model of toluene diisocyanate-induced airway disease.

Toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-induced airway disease is a disorder characterized by chronic airway inflammation and airway remodeling. A recently discovered group of cytokines is the IL-17 family, which has been introduced as an important regulator of immune and inflammatory responses, including airway inflammation. Recently, we have reported that phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.

Laparoscopic myomectomy for large myomas.

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) for large myomas. A subpopulation of 51 patients with myomas 8 cm or larger in diameter was selected from 155 patients who underwent LM at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital from July 2003 to November 2006. The mean age of the patients was 34.