Xenoreactivity of human clonal mesenchymal stem cells in a major histocompatibility complex-matched allogeneic graft-versus-host disease mouse model.

Effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) have been actively investigated since the discovery of the immunomodulation property of MSCs about a decade ago. Human clonal MSCs (hcMSCs) were isolated from human bone marrow aspirate according to our newly established isolation protocol called subfractionation culturing method, and were evaluated for their efficacy on GVHD treatment, using a mouse MHC-matched B6-->BALB.B GVHD model system.

Pelvic inflammatory disease with Tc-99m ciprofloxacin imaging.

The clinical diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is inexact. There are multiple potential symptoms and signs ascribable to PID as predicted by areas of inflammatory involvement. No symptoms or signs are pathognomonic for PID.

Maternal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, GSTM1/T1 polymorphisms and oxidative stress.

Environmental tobacco smoking (ETS) is known to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between maternal exposure to ETS and oxidative stress for neonates, as well as the effect of maternal genetic polymorphisms, glutathione-S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and GSTT1, on this relationship. We used the radioimmunoassay to measure the urinary concentration of cotinine in 266 pregnant women who denied smoking cigarettes during pregnancy and in their singleton babies.

Maternal and fetal exposure to bisphenol A in Korea.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a well-known endocrine disrupter used widely. Despite the potential risk of human exposure to BPA, little information exists concerning maternal and fetal exposure to BPA during pregnancy in Korea. This study purposed to evaluate the correlation between maternal and fetal exposure, and to determine exposure levels to BPA in Korean pregnant women and their fetuses.

Multipotency and growth characteristic of periosteum-derived progenitor cells for chondrogenic, osteogenic, and adipogenic differentiation.

The mesengenic multipotency of cryopreserved periosteum-derived progenitor cells (PDPCs) for chondrogenesis, osteogenesis and adipogenesis was investigated. Differentiation was verified using RT-PCR and histological analysis. For characterization, FACS analysis was performed with specific surface markers of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Combined treatment of an intratumoral injection of dendritic cells and systemic chemotherapy (Paclitaxel) for murine fibrosarcoma.

A novel combined treatment of conventional chemotherapy with an intratumoral injection of syngeneic dendritic cells (DCs) has emerged as a potent cancer treatment strategy. In this study, we evaluated the synergistic effect of an intraperitoneal (i.p.

Mucinous adenocarcinoma arising from one retroperitoneal mature cystic teratoma in a postmenopausal woman.

Malignant degeneration of a retroperitoneal mature cystic teratoma to adenocarcinoma at postmenopausal age is extremely rare. A 72-year-old woman with mucinous adenocarcinoma arising from a retroperitoneal mature cystic teratoma is presented.

Placental superoxide dismutase, genetic polymorphism, and neonatal birth weight.

Background: The roles of antioxidants in the placenta and genetic susceptibility to oxidant chemicals in relation to neonatal birth weight have not been elucidated. We determined whether the level of placental manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and its genetic polymorphism plays any role in oxidative stress and neonatal birth weight.

Methods: We measured placental MnSOD and determined MnSOD genetic polymorphism among 108 pregnant women who were hospitalized for delivery and their singleton live births in Korea.

Nitric oxide production increases during normal pregnancy and decreases in preeclampsia.

To investigate the changes in nitric oxide (NO) production during and after normal pregnancy and in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia, we measured serum nitrates and nitrites (NOx) concentrations and serum iron markers in 347 subjects. Serum NOx concentrations were determined after reduction of nitrates to nitrites using the Griess reaction. Serum iron and serum ferritin were assayed using an automatic chemical analyzer and a chemiluminescence method.