Validity and reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire for breast cancer survivors in Korea.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the validity and reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) developed in Korea for breast cancer survivors. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Ninety-nine breast cancer survivors who completed an FFQ twice and three 3-day dietary records (DRs) between 2016-2017 were included. Energy and 14 nutrient intakes were calculated from FFQs and DRs. To determine the validity of the FFQ, energy-adjusted de-attenuated Pearson correlations between two FFQ assessments and the average of the three 3-day DRs were calculated, and to determine reproducibility, energy-adjusted Pearson correlations and degrees of agreement were calculated between the first and second FFQ assessments. RESULTS: Correlation coefficients of validity ranged from 0.29 (protein) to 0.47 (fat) (median value = 0.36) for the FFQ assessment and from 0.20 (riboflavin) to 0.53 (calcium) (median value = 0.37) for the second. Correlation coefficients of reproducibility ranged from 0.22 (sodium) to 0.62 (carbohydrate) (median value = 0.36). Regarding FFQ reproducibilities, percentage classifications of exact agreements for energy-adjusted nutrients ranged from 27.3% (sodium) and 45.5% (fat). A median 76.8% of participants were classified into the same or adjacent quartiles, while a median of 5.6% of participants were classified in extreme quartiles. Bland-Atman plots for the majority of data points of three macronutrients, calcium and vitamins A and C fell within limits of agreement. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that the newly developed FFQ for Korean breast cancer survivors has acceptable validity and reproducibility as compared with three 3-day DRs collected over a one-year period.

Adherence to the American Cancer Society Guidelines for Cancer Survivors and Health-Related Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Survivors.

The development and validation of guidelines for breast cancer survivors are of importance due to the increased survival rate for breast cancer. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to examine the association between adherence to the American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines for cancer survivors and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A total of 618 breast cancer survivors aged 30 to 81 years who had been diagnosed with stage I to III primary breast cancer and had surgery at least a year before enrollment were included. The participants completed the 36 Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) to evaluate HRQoL, and adherence scores were calculated based on the Nutrition and Physical Activity Guidelines for Cancer Survivors, which were released by the ACS. Increasing adherence scores were associated with increasing scores on the physical component summary (PCS) and the physical functioning (PF), bodily pain (BP), and vitality (VT) domains (p for trend <0.001 for PCS and PF, 0.01 for BP, and 0.02 for VT); these scores were mainly driven by the associations among survivors with stage II-III cancer. Further prospective studies are needed to evaluate whether adherence to these guidelines improves HRQoL scores among breast cancer survivors.

Synergistic effect between clove oil and its major compounds and antibiotics against oral bacteria.

BACKGROUND: Essential oils have been found to be antibacterial, antifungal, spasmolytic, and antiplasmodial activity and therapeutic effect in cancer treatment. OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: In this study, clove oil and its major compounds, eugenol and ß-caryophyllene were evaluated against oral bacteria, either alone or in combination with ampicillin or gentamicin, via checkerboard and time kill assay. RESULTS: The antibacterial activity of the clove oil was higher than ß-caryophyllene but was similar to eugenol against all tested oral bacteria. Furthermore, the MIC and MBC were reduced to one half-one sixteenth as a result of the combination of clove oil or eugenol with antibiotics. The synergistic interaction was verified by time kill studies using the clove oil or eugenol with antibiotics. 60 min of treatment with MIC of the clove oil or eugenol with ampicillin or gentamicin resulted in an increase in the rate of killing in units of CFU/mL to a greater degree than was observed with alone. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the clove oil and eugenol could be employed as a natural antibacterial agent against cariogenic and periodontopathogenic bacteria.

The essential oil isolated from Artemisia capillaris prevents LPS-induced production of NO and PGE(2) by inhibiting MAPK-mediated pathways in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Artemisia capillaris (A. capillaris) is used in traditional Korean herbal medicine for its believedanti-inflammatory activities. Previous studies have suggested that the essential oil of A. capillaris contains the active components responsible for its pharmacological effect, even though the mechanism for its action is unclear. This study examined the inhibitory effects of the essential oil of A. capillaris on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)). The essential oil significantly inhibited the production of NO in the LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, which was mediated by the down-regulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression but not by its direct cytotoxic activity. The essential oil also blocked the secretion of PGE(2) and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the LPS-stimulated cells. Western blot analysis showed that the essential oil inhibited the phosphorylation of IkappaB-alpha, nuclear translocation of p65, and subsequent activation of NF-kappaB. In addition, the essential oil suppressed the LPS-stimulated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) as well as the AP-1 DNA-binding activity. Moreover, MAPK inhibitors significantly reduced the LPS-induced production of NO and PGE(2). Collectively, we suggest that the oil inhibits the expression and production of inflammatory mediators by blocking the MAPK-mediated pathways and inhibiting the activation of NF-kappaB and AP-1.

Antibacterial activity of sophoraflavanone G isolated from the roots of Sophora flavescens against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

In this study, sophoraflavanone G obtained from Sophora flavescens was evaluated against 10 clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), either alone or in combination with ampicillin or oxacillin, via checkerboard assay. At the end point of an optically clear well, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranged from 0.5 to 8 microg/ml for sophoraflavanone G, from 64 to 1024 microg/ml for ampicillin, and from 256 to 1024 microg/ml for oxacillin. The combination of sophoraflavanone G and ampicillin or oxacillin yielded a fractional inhibitory concentration index ranging from 0.188 to 0.375, thereby indicating a principally synergistic effect. The synergistic interaction was verified by time-kill studies using sophoraflavanone G and/or antibiotics. Thirty minutes of treatment with sophoraflavanone G with ampicillin or oxacillin resulted in an increase in the rate of killing in units of CFU/ml to a greater degree than was observed with Sophoraflavanone G alone. These findings indicated that the application of the tested sophoraflavanone G alone or in combination with antibiotics might prove useful in the control and treatment of MRSA infections.

Essential oil of Artemisia capillaris induces apoptosis in KB cells via mitochondrial stress and caspase activation mediated by MAPK-stimulated signaling pathway.

Artemisia capillaris has been used in traditional Korean medicine for its variety of pharmacological activities. Previous studies have suggested that the essential oil of A. capillaris has chemopreventive potential, even though the mechanism of its action is unclear. This study examined whether or not the essential oil isolated from A. capillaris induces apoptosis in the human oral epidermoid carcinoma cells along with the possible mechanism(s) of the essential oil-mediated cytotoxicity. The essential oil induced cell death of KB cells through apoptosis, as evidenced by the increased cell population in the sub-G1 phase, the appearance of condensed and/or fragmented nuclei, and the generation of a cleaved PARP product. Treating the cells with the oil also caused changes in the mitochondrial level of the Bcl-2 family proteins such as Bcl-2 and Bax, thereby inducing the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol. Additional experiments using caspase or mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors suggested the involvement of the p38/NF-kappaB and JNK/Bcl-2-mediated pathways as well as caspase activation in the oil-mediated apoptosis. Collectively, we believe that the essential oil of A. capillaris induces apoptosis in human oral cancer cells and that it might be a good resource for searching new drugs, especially anticancer drugs.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Cryptomeria japonica.

The composition and the antibacterial activity of the essential oil obtained from Cryptomeria japonica D. Don on oral bacteria were studied. The chemical composition of the essential oil was analysed by GC and GC-MS. Sixty-eight compounds accounting for 95.82% of the oil were identified. The main compounds in the oil were alpha-pinene (6.07%), sabinene (8.86%), terpinen-4-ol (9.77%), alpha-terpineol (6.13%), elemol (11.17%) and 10(15)-cadinen-4-ol (7.16%). The essential oil and some of its major compounds were tested for antimicrobial activity against 15 different genera of oral bacteria. The essential oil of C. japonica exhibited considerable inhibitory effects against all bacteria tested (MICs, 0.025-0.05 mg/mL; MBCs, 0.025-0.1 mg/mL), while its major compounds demonstrated various degrees of growth inhibition.

Botulinum toxin A treatment for contouring of the lower leg.

BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin type A is widely used in the treatment of bilateral masseteric hypertrophy in Asians. Botulinum toxin A may have plausible effects on the oversized calf muscles that cause mental distress in Korean women. OBJECTIVE: We report our successful use of botulinum toxin A in the treatment of two patients with muscular legs. METHODS: The toxin was injected into the gastrocnemius muscle, 300-360 U per side. RESULTS: A reduction in calf circumference was noticed 3 weeks after treatment and was maintained for 6-8 months without systemic side effects. CONCLUSION: Botulinum toxin treatment for enlarged gastrocnemius muscles is a non-invasive alternative method for the improvement of calf contours.

Bleaching phototrichogram: an improved method for hair growth assessment.

The phototrichogram (PT) is a non-invasive tool for monitoring hair growth in vivo. However, the majority of PT techniques are of little use to clinicians bacause they are time-consuming and/or difficult to perform. Consequently, there is a need for an easy and time-saving PT technique. This study was performed to evaluate the accuracy and availability of a modified PT, bleaching phototrichogram (BPT), by comparing it with the conventional phototrichogram (CPT). Ten healthy male volunteers (age range 26-33 years) comprised the study subjects. Hairs were clipped from two adjacent circular areas in the occipital region of each subject. The clipped hairs in the first area were bleached and photographed two days later. The second area was photographed just after clipping and two days later. In each area, the following biological parameters of hair growth were analyzed; 1: hair density (number/cm2), 2: anagen hair ratio (%), 3: linear hair growth rate (mm/day), 4: non-vellus hair ratio (%) and 5: anagen hair thickness (microm). The hair density, anagen hair ratio, linear hair growth rate, and anagen hair thickness by BPT were similar to the CPT values with no significant differences, although the non-vellus hair ratio by BPT was higher than the CPT value. The BPT has a higher clinical usefulness than the CPT because it saves much time with satisfactory accuracy.

Poliosis circumscripta associated with neurofibroma.

A 32-year-old woman presented at our clinic with a moderately soft, nontender, subcutaneous mass in the left temporal region and white hairs overlying the swelling. The lesion was surgically excised, and there was no recurrence at one year postoperatively. On histological examination, the hair follicles overlying the subcutaneous mass were devoid of pigment and a poorly demarcated fibrocellular process was seen in the subcutaneous mass, which was typical of neurofibroma. To our knowledge, only one case of poliosis associated with neurofibroma has been previously reported.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Artemisia lavandulaefolia.

The chemical components of the essential oil obtained from Artemisia lavandulaefolia DC. were analyzed by GC-MS. Ninety-nine compounds accounting for 94.9 % of the essential oil were identified. The major compounds in the essential oil were beta-caryophyllene (16.1 %), cis-chrysanthenol (7.0 %), 1,8-cineole (5.6 %), borneol (5.3 %), trans-beta-farnesene (5.1 %), camphor (4.9 %), yomogi alcohol (4.5 %), alpha-terpineol (3.9 %), and alpha-humulene oxide (3.3 %). The essential oil and some of its major compounds were tested for antimicrobial activity against 15 different genera of oral bacteria. The essential oil of A. lavandulaefolia exhibited considerable inhibitory effects against all obligate anaerobic bacteria (MIC values, 0.025 to 0.05 mg/mL; MBC values, 0.025 to 0.1 mg/mL) tested, while its major compounds demonstrated different degrees of growth inhibition.

Subungual schwannoma: a rare location.

BACKGROUND: Schwannoma is a benign tumor of neural tissue and usually develops in deeper soft tissue. Cutaneous involvement is uncommon, and a subungual location is extremely rare. In fact, it has not been previously reported. OBJECTIVE: To present a case of subungual schwannoma. METHOD: A 49-year-old man had a subungual tumor on his right thumb of 8 years duration. The lesion caused a mild stinging sensation in winter and grew slowly. The tumor was excised using a transungual approach. After closure, the wound was dressed with a trimmed original nail plate. RESULTS: The nail plate grew normally, and there was no recurrence 1 year postoperatively. CONCLUSION: We describe a case of schwannoma that developed in the subungual area of a thumb. Although schwannoma rarely develops in this area, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of subungual tumor.

Topical photodynamic therapy using intense pulsed light for treatment of actinic keratosis: clinical and histopathologic evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is suitable for the treatment of actinic keratosis, and, recently, topical PDT using intense pulsed light as a light source has been reported. However, evaluations of its therapeutic effects have been clinically based. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to confirm the histopathologic resolution of actinic keratosis treated by topical PDT using intense pulsed light as a light source. METHODS: Twelve actinic keratosis lesions in seven patients were treated with 5-aminolevulinic acid-PDT using intense pulsed light as a light source. After a single treatment, the clinical response was assessed and histopathologic examinations were performed on clinically resolved lesions. RESULTS: Six of 12 (50%) lesions showed clinical clearance after a single treatment, but histologic examinations showed that only 5 of the 12 (42%) lesions had been removed. No complications, such as pigmentary changes or scarring, were observed. CONCLUSION: Intense pulsed light is potentially an effective light source for PDT. However, the determination of complete remission in actinic keratosis requires caution, and long-term follow-up or histologic confirmation may be required.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of Artemisia scoparia and A. capillaris.

The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from Artemisia scoparia Waldst. et Kitamura and Artemisia capillaris Thunb. was analyzed by GC/MS. The essential oil of A. scoparia was rich in camphor (11.0 %), 1,8-cineole (21.5 %), and beta-caryophyllene (6.8 %) as the major compounds, whereas A. capillaris oil was rich in beta-pinene (9.4 %), beta-caryophyllene (11.1 %), and capillene (32.7 %). The essential oils and some of their major compounds were tested for their antimicrobial activity against 15 different genera of oral bacteria. The essential oils of A. scoparia and A. capillaris exhibited considerable inhibitory effects against all oral bacteria tested, while their major components demonstrated various degrees of growth inhibition.