Technical issues and new devices of ESD of early gastric cancer.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a highly refined technique compared to conventional endoscopic mucosal resection. It enables complete resection of early gastric cancer (EGC) which has no possibility of lymph node metastasis. Indication for ESD of EGC generally entails early gastric cancer confined to the mucosa with well differentiated histology, though there are clinically suitable expanded criteria.

Electromagnetic actuation methods for intravascular locomotive microrobot.

Heart diseases such as angina pectoris and myocardial infarction have been becoming the leading causes of death all over the world in recent years. The pharmacotherapy and the surgical operations have been executed for treating heart problems. The percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with catheter is frequently used for the treatment of coronary artery diseases, but the treatment of chronic total occlusion (CTO) is very difficult and challenging operation, since there is no efficient alternative therapy until now.

Thumb reconstruction using the radial midpalmar (perforator-based) island flap (distal thenar perforator-based island flap).

Background: Although the reconstruction of palmar defects of the thumb with exposed vital structures is difficult because of a lack of locally available tissue, several local flaps are available for the reconstruction of these defects. The majority of these flaps are raised from the dorsal or dorsolateral aspect of the thumb and index finger or from the forearm.

Methods: Between 1998 and 2008, 23 patients underwent reconstruction of palmar defects of the thumb at Chonnam National University Medical School, using the radial midpalmar (perforator-based) island flap (distal thenar perforator-based island flap), a perforator-based island flap harvested from the radial aspect of the midpalm and based on perforators from the terminal branch of the superficial palmar arch and the princeps pollicis artery.

Surgical outcomes of the modified single-patch technique in complete atrioventricular septal defect.

We examined the usefulness of the modified single-patch technique for the surgical management of complete atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD). Sixty-one patients undergoing total correction for complete AVSD from January 1997 to December 2006 were classified to the modified single-patch technique group (18 patients) and the classical one-/two-patch technique group (43 patients). The surgical outcomes of the modified single-patch technique were compared with those of the classical-patch technique.

A simple technique for the treatment of inferior orbital blow-out fracture: a transantral approach, open reduction, and internal fixation with miniplate and screws.

Purpose: Infraorbital blow-out fracture (IOBF) is an uncommon midfacial trauma, and impairs eyeball function and causes esthetic problems. The extraoral approach can lead to some complications such as scarring, ectropion, and entropion. The intraoral approach, such as a transantral approach, has advantages such as no visible scaring, it can be used to simultaneously treat a zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture (ZMCF), and the procedure is relatively easy.

The perception threshold measurement can be a useful tool for evaluation of sensitive skin.

Sensitive skin is characterized by subjective symptoms that are hard to quantify. However, a neurobiological approach could improve our understanding of the nature of skin sensitivity. In this study, we measured the sensory perception of well-controlled electric currents on the skin that stimulated sensory nerve fibres such as the myelinated A fibre, A delta fibre and unmyelinated c-fibre.

Lysophosphatidic acid promotes cell invasion by up-regulating the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor in human gastric cancer 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.

Induction of apoptosis by the licochalcone E in endothelial cells via modulation of NF-kappaB and Bcl-2 Family.

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.

Triptolide inhibits tumor promoter-induced uPAR expression via blocking NF-kappaB signaling in human gastric AGS cells.

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.

Typical carcinoid tumor of the nasal cavity.

The nasal cavity is a rare site of origin of neuroendocrine tumors. They can be classified typical carcinoid, atypical carcinoid and small cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine type. The tumor histology and prognosis correlate closely.

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits monocyte chemotactic protein-1 expression in endothelial cells via blocking NF-kappaB signaling.

Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) is a potent chemoattractant for monocytes and plays a key role in various inflammatory responses, including atherosclerosis. In this study, we examined the effect of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major green tea catechin, on the expression of MCP-1 in human endothelial ECV304 cells. EGCG markedly inhibited the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced MCP-1 mRNA and protein levels in a dose-dependent manner.

Pancreatic metastasis of leiomyosarcoma in the right thigh: a case report.

Pancreatic tumors are primary in most of the cases. Pancreatic metastases associated with other primary malignancies, especially pancreatic metastasis of leiomyosarcoma, are uncommon. A 66-year-old woman underwent surgical resection of malignant mesenchymoma (70% osteosarcoma and 30% leiomyosarcoma) in the right thigh.

Helicobacter pylori stimulates urokinase plasminogen activator receptor expression and cell invasiveness through reactive oxygen species and NF-kappaB signaling in human gastric carcinoma cells.

The gastric pathogen, helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), has been associated with the progression of gastric cancer. It was previously reported that H.

Transient abducens nerve palsy during endoscopic sinus surgery: report of three cases.

Dysfunction of one or more of the ocular motor nerves or extraocular muscle injury commonly results in diplopia. Diplopia during endoscopic sinus surgery is caused by surgical trauma or local anesthetics. Transient abducens nerve palsy rarely occurs after an intranasal sphenopalatine nerve block.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits the PDGF-induced VEGF expression in human vascular smooth muscle cells via blocking PDGF receptor and Erk-1/2.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has been known to induce vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in human vascular smooth muscle cells (hVSMCs). We previously reported that Erk-1/2 and AP-1 pathways are crucial in the PDGF-induced VEGF expression in hVSMCs . In this study, we investigated the effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major green tea catechin, on the PDGF-induced VEGF expression in hVSMCs and the underlying mechanisms.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and AP-1 mediate the up-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor by PDGF in human vascular smooth muscle cells.

Endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) have been shown to communicate with each other via cytokine signaling during neovascularization. In this study, we investigated the effect of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), a cytokine released from tumors and ECs, on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in human VSMCs and underlying signal transduction pathways. PDGF induced VEGF expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner.

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome associated with neurofibromatosis type 1: a case report.

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 is an autosomal dominant neurocutaneous disorder with characteristic features of skin and central nervous system involvement. Gastrointestinal involvement is rare, but the risk of malignancy development is considerable. Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is caused by gastrin-secreting tumors called gastrinomas.

Urokinase plasminogen activator receptor is upregulated by Helicobacter pylori in human gastric cancer AGS cells via ERK, JNK, and AP-1.

The gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is suggested to be associated with gastric cancer progression. In this study, we investigated the effect of H.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase and AP-1 pathways are involved in reactive oxygen species-induced urokinase plasminogen activator receptor expression in human gastric cancer cells.

Overexpression of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is known to correlate closely with tumor cell invasion and metastasis. In gastric cancer, however, the mechanism for induction of uPAR remains to be elucidated. In this study, to investigate the effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on uPAR expression and the underlying signal pathways in human gastric cancer AGS cells, phenazine methosulfate (PMS) and H2O2 were used as ROS generator.

Splenectomy for solitary splenic metastasis of ovarian cancer.

Background: Splenic metastases occur in rare cases with a few case reports of patients in the literature. Generally, splenic metastases mean late dissemination of a disease. Solitary splenic metastases from solid tumors are extremely unusual.

Vascular disease/risk and late-life depression in a Korean community population.

Background: Associations between vascular risk factors and late-life depression are controversial.

Aims: To investigate the association between measures of vascular disease/risk and depression and confounding and effect modification by APOE genotype and cognitive function.

Method: In a Korean community population aged 65+ (n=732), diagnosis of depression (Geriatric Mental State Schedule) and information on vascular status, disability, APOE genotype and cognitive function were obtained.

Interleukin-1beta stimulates IL-8 expression through MAP kinase and ROS signaling in human gastric carcinoma cells.

Recent studies have suggested that the expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8) directly correlates with the vascularity of human gastric carcinomas. In this study, the effect of IL-1beta on IL-8 expression in human gastric cancer TMK-1 cells and the underlying signal transduction pathways were investigated. IL-1beta induced the IL-8 expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner.

Abnormal speech perception in schizophrenia with auditory hallucinations.

Background: The neurobiological mechanism of auditory hallucination (AH) in schizophrenia remains elusive, but AH can be caused by the abnormality in the speech perception system based on the speech perception neural network model.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether schizophrenic patients with AH have the speech processing impairment as compared with schizophrenic patients without AH, and whether the speech perception ability could be improved after AH had subsided.

Methods: Twenty-four schizophrenic patients with AH were compared with 25 schizophrenic patients without AH.

EGCG blocks tumor promoter-induced MMP-9 expression via suppression of MAPK and AP-1 activation in human gastric AGS cells.

Overexpression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) has been known to correlate closely with tumor cell invasion and strategies to down-regulate their expression may ultimately be of clinical utility. In this study, we investigated the effects of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a major green tea catechin, on the cell invasiveness and MMP-9 induction in human gastric cancer AGS cells. EGCG inhibited the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced cell invasiveness and MMP-9 expression in a dose-dependent manner.

[Therapeutic effect of the endoscopic N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection for acute esophagogastric variceal bleeding: comparison with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt].

Background/aims: Though endoscopic therapies such as variceal ligation and sclerotherapy has been performed, bleeding from the large esophageal and gastric varices still poses significant risk of death. Decrease of portal pressure by TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) or surgical shunt was indicated as cause of failure of endoscopic therapies. Treatment of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate has been especially effective for gastric variceal bleeding, but comparison with other treatments had not been reported yet.