5-FU Induces Apoptosis of Fas (+), HepG2 Cells Via Activation of Fas-mediated Caspase and Mitochondria Dysfunction / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: In order to investigate the role of Fas on the chemosensitivity of cancer cells in regards to chemotherapeutic agents, the Fas/FasL signaling pathway of apoptosis was explored in human hepatoma cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fas expression of hepatoma cells including Chang, Huh7, HepG2, and Hep3B cells, was determined by RT-PCR and flow cytometry analysis. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay and apoptosis was assessed by DNA fragmentation assay. The catalytic activity of the caspase-family proteases including caspase-3, 6, 8, and 9 proteases, was tested using fluorogenic biosubstrates. The expression of apoptotic mediators including cytochrome c, PARP, and Bcl2 family proteins were measured from cytosolic and mitochondrial compartments. Mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by fluorescence staining with JC-1, rhodamine 123. RESULTS: Fas mRNA was constitutively expressed in Chang and HepG2 as defined as Fas (+) cells, but not in Huh7 and Hep3B cells, defined as Fas (-) cells. Fas (+) cells were markedly sensitive to 5-FU whereas Fas (-) cells were resistant and able to survive. 5-FU increased Fas expression of Fas (+) HepG2 cells and simultaneously resulted in apoptotic death, characterized by the ladder-pattern fragmentation of genomic DNA. Moreover, it increased the catalytic activity of caspase-8 protease, which eventually cleaved the Bid into truncated Bid which translocated into mitochondria only in Fas (+) cells. It also increased the caspase-9 protease activity with Bax expression, cytosolic release of cytochrome c, and mytochondrial dysfunction only in Fas (+) HepG2 cells. Furthermore, 5-FU increased the enzymatic activity of caspase-3 protease with PARP digestion in HepG2 cells. CONCLUSION: 5-FU exerted cytotoxicity against hepatoma cells via activation of Fas-mediated apoptotic signaling including caspase cascades and mytochondrial dysfunction. Our data suggests that Fas may be an important modulator of the chemosensitivity of cancer cells vis- -vis anticancer chemotherapeutic agents.

Clinical Analysis of the Origins of Dizziness in Patients

BACKGROUND: Recently, The number of patients who have been complaining of the vertigo or dizziness has been increasing due to rapid growth of elderly population and senile disease. The differentiation of dizzy patients is not familiar to most emergency physicians. This study was designed to differentiate true vertigo and to investigate the clinical difference among central vertigo, peripheral vertigo, and other causes of dizziness. METHODS: The authors analyzed the cases of 237 dizzy patients who visited the emergency department of Chonnam University Hospital during the recent 2 years. For the base of dizziness, associated past illnesses, severity, nystagmus type, and the causes of central and peripheral vertigo. RESULTS: Female patients were 142(59.9%) and male patients were 95(40.1%). The most common age group was the 6th decade. The origin of dizziness was classified as peripheral cause(25.3%), central cause(32.9%), and others(41.8%). As to nature of the dizziness, the rotatory sense was dominant in peripheral vertigo and the floating sense and blurred vision in central vertigo. Peripheral vertigo was triggered by position change of head and body, and central vertigo by the eye movement. Audiograms I showed that most patients with central vertigo had normal hearing, but 46.7% of thoswith peripheral vertigo had an abnormal hearing disturbance. Nystagmus was more prevalent in peripheral vertigo CONCLUSION: History taking and physical examination played an important role in the diagnosis of dizzy patients. An important part of the diagnosis of a dizzy patient could be to evaluate the peripheral origin, the central origin and others causes. Because central vertigo may be associated with a significant neurological pathology, special radiological studies, including MRI and CT, are mandatory to rule out a devastating brain lesion.

Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation In Ward of Tertiary Hospital

BACKGROUND: Although cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) is a very effective therapy in cardiac arrest, it is hard to prove the true effectiveness of CPR. Several studies about out-of-hospital and emergency department CPR exist, but only a few reports about in-hospital CPR are available. This study was designed to investigate in-hospital cardiac arrest, to analyze the result of CPR, and to evaluate the problems associated with in-hospital CPR. METHODS: A clinical analysis of 71 cases of in-hospital CPR announcement from January 2000 to August 2000 was performed. The initial rhythm on cardiac arrest, return of spontaneous circulation(ROSC), and the survivals were analyzed in the case of the 46 true cardiac arrest patients. RESULTS: During 8 months, there were 71 cases of in-hospital CPR announcement. Among them, there were 46 cases of true cardiac arrest and 25 cases of non-cardiac arrest. Of the 46 true cardiac-arrest cases, 27(58.7%) experienced ROSC, 15(32.6) survived for over 24 hours, and 7(15.2%) survived to be discharged. The initial rhythms on cardiac arrest were 30 cases(65.2%) of asystole, 14(30.4%) of PEA(pulseless electrical activity), and 2(4.3%) of ventricular fibrillation, with ROSC being 17 cases(56.7%), 9(64.3%) and 1(50.0%) cases and discharged survivors being 4 cases(13.3%), 3(21.4%) and 0(0.0%) cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: Extraordinarily high proportions of asystole and PEA were seen in the initial rhythm of cardiac arrest, and those were associated with high survival rates. Although further study is needed to evaluate the course leading to this high proportion of asystole and PEA, this result suggests that if the EMS system in the hospital is activated promptly and systematically, a better outcome will be achieved in case of cardiac arrest with asystole and PEA.

The Eletrocardiographic Analysis of Acute Myocardial Infarction and Non-infarction Syndrome In the Patients with ST Segment Elevation and Chest Pain

BACKGROUND: ST segment elevation in patient with chest pain was seen in acute myocardial infarction and in numerous other non-infarction syndrome. The causes of non-infarction syndrome were left ventricular hypertrophy, BER(benign early repolarization), and left bundle branch block in cardiac origin and were hyperkalemia and hyperventilation syndrome in metabolic origin and were others. Furthermore, the differentiation of electrocardiogram between acute myocardial infarction and non-infarction syndrome was very difficult. So, we compared and analysed characteristics of ST segment elevation of acute myocardial infarction and non-infarction syndrome that suggested the clue of early diagnosis of coronary artery disease. METHOD AND MATERIALS: We retrospectively reviewed the electrocardiogram of 961 patients with chest pain who visited the emergency center from January 1999 to December 1999. Acute myocardial infarction was diagnosed by clinical finding, electrocardiogram, cardiac enzyme, echocardiogram, and myocardial spect. Left ventricular hypertrophy, BER, and left bundle branch block in cardiac origin of non-infarction syndrome were diagnosed by electrocardiographic criteria suggested by William J. Brady. Acute myocarditis, acute pericarditis, and hyperventilation syndrome were diagnosed by clinical finding. RESULTS: Among 961 patients with chest pain, 236(24.6%) patients manifested ST segment elevation who were diagnosed acute myocardial infarction in 162(68.6%) patients and non-infarction syndrome in 74(31.4%) patients. The causes of non-infarction syndrome in 74 patients were left ventricular hypertrophy(32:13.6%), BER(28:11.9%), left bundle branch block(11:4.7%), and others(3:1.3%). Three others were acute myocarditis, acute pericarditis, and hyperventilation syndrome. Electrocardiographic characteristics of ST segment elevation of non-infarction syndrome manifested almost same finding compared to William J. Brady' criteria. CONCLUSION: ST segment elevation in patient with chest with chest pain visited emergency department was seen in acute myocardial infarction(68.6%) and the other non-infarction syndromes(31.4%). Significant number of patients were not associated with acute myocardial infarction. Therefore, we must completely understand characteristics of ST segment elevation in acute myocardial infarction and the other non-infarction syndromes to diagnose fatal early coronary artery disease and to avoid unnecessary thrombolytic therapy.

An Analysis on the Patient Transported via 119 System

An analysis was performed to evaluate the problems in Emegency Medical Service System(EMSS) through the review of the 119 transport chart of 1,229 patients who visited to emergency center of Chonnam University Hospital via 119 system during the period from January 1998 to December 1998. The results were obtained as follows: 1) 1,229(4.9%) of the 25,253 patients were transported to emergency center via 119 system. Among 1.229 patients, male were 691(56%) and female 538(44%), and nontraumatic patients were 946(77%) and traumatic patients 283(23%). The peak age was 5th to 6th decades. 2) Mean arrival time to scene(ambulance response time) was 4.8 +/-.8minutes and mean arrival time to hospital 19.6 +/-0.1minutes. In the distribution of the requested place for ambulance, 73% was house and 23% was field. 3) In the severity of patients, 154(12.5%) patients were classified into emergent, 442(36%) into urgent, and 633(51.5%) into non-emergent. Among 1,229 patients, number of patients admitted were 419cases(34.1%), operated 85(6.9%), discharged in emergency department 536(43.6%), dead 70(5.7%), and transferred 119(9.7%), respectively. 4) The assessment of prehospital treatment by Emergency Medical Technician(EMT) revealed that checking the vital sign was only 49.5%, and prehospital care was limited to airway management, O2 inhalation and immobilization. There was no case of the notification to medical institute or the consultation to doctor. These results show that over the half of patients transported to level III emergency center via 119 system were classified into non-emergent and the prehospital management of the patient by EMT was not adequate. This study suggests the need of more simple and objective triage guideline for patient transport, the improvement of prehospital care system, and reconstruction of the computerized communication system.

The Effects of Longterm Stretching Exercise on Health Related Fitness of the Elderly Women

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of regular stretching exercise for 1 year on health related fitness of the elderly women. We also determined whether the weekly stretching exercise sessions followed by intensive stretching exercise program was beneficial to maintain the altered health related fitness status. The thirty elderly women (F, 80.1+/-6.6 yr) were participated in this study. Subjects had no serious orthopedic problems. During the study period, they did not perform any regular physical activity beside the stretching exercise. The 1 year stretching exercise programs included 3 days/week stretching exercise session for the first 12 weeks followed by 1 day/week stretching exercise for rest of the study period. The subjects were tested 6 categories of health related fitness factors which included % body fat, flexibility, hand grips, back strength, balance, and agility. The summary of the results of this study were as followed: 1) There were significant increase in FFM and slightly decrease in %BF and WHR after the 3 days/wk stretching exercise program. However, there were significant decrease in FFM and WHR after the 1 day/wk stretching exercise program (p<.05). 2) There were significant increase in flexibility, hand grip strength (Rt.) and balance after the 3 days/wk stretching exercise (p<.05) while hand grip strength (Lt.) and back strength were slightly increase after the exercise. However, there were significant decrease in hand grip strength (both) and reaction time after 1 day/wk stretching exercise program while flexibility, back strength, and balance were slighly decrease after the program. In conclusion, this study showed that the 3 days/wk stretching exercise for 12 weeks result in significant increase of all health related fitness factors (p<.05). However, it showed that some of the HRF factors were decreased after the weekly stretching exercise unexpectedly.

Two cases of Anticholinergic Toxicity After Jimson weed Ingestion

Jimson weed, also known as Datura stramonium, is a member of the Solanaceae family. Jimson weed was used by American Indians for medicinal and religious purposes. All parts of the Jimson weed plant are poisons, containing the alkaloids atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine. So, it is caused by these components to make a anticholinergic toxicity within 6h after ingestion. Initial manifestations include dry mucus membrane, blurred, vision, thirst, difficulty swallowing and speaking, and photophobia, and may be followed by hyperthermia, confusion, agitation, combative behavior, hallucination, urinary retention, seizure and coma. We experienced two patients who developed combative behavior and agitation with pupil dilation caused by Jimson weed. They discharged with improvement after supportive for 2days.

A basic study for respiratory sybcytial virus detection using polymerase chain reaction

No abstract available.

Transcutaneous Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Monitoring in Critically Ill Neonates

No abstract available.