Lack of association between the VEGFA gene polymorphisms and preterm birth in Korean women

Preterm birth (PTB), a pregnancy-related disease, is defined as a birth before 37 weeks of gestation. It is a major cause of maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide, and its incidence rate is steadily increasing. Various genetic factors can contribute to the etiology of PTB. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) gene is an important angiogenic gene and its polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with PTB development. Therefore, we conducted a case-control study to evaluate the association between VEGFA rs699947, rs2010963, and rs3025039 polymorphisms and PTB in Korean women. A total of 271 subjects (116 patients with PTB and 155 women at ≥38 weeks of gestation) were analyzed in this study. The genotyping of VEGFA gene polymorphisms was performed using polymerase chain reaction– restriction fragment length polymorphism. No significant association between the patients with PTB and the control groups was confirmed. In the combination analysis, we found a significant association between PTB and VEGFA rs699947 CC-rs2010963 GG-rs3025039 CC combination (odds ratio, 3.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.091 to 13.032; p = 0.031). The VEGFA rs699947, rs2010963, and rs3025039 polymorphisms might have no genetic association with the pathogenesis of PTB in Korean women. However, the combination analysis indicates the possibility that VEGFA acts in PTB pathophysiology. Therefore, larger sample sets and replication studies are required to further elucidate our findings.

Accreditation standards items of post-2nd cycle related to the decision of accreditation of medical schools by the Korean Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation / 한국의학교육

Purpose@#The purpose of this study is to analyze the accreditation standards items related to the decision of accreditation of medical schools by the Korea Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation (KIMEE). @*Methods@#The subjects are medical schools in Korea that have received post-2nd cycle accreditation from the KIMEE between 2012 and 2016. Analyses were conducted for differences in accreditation decisions according to the characteristics of medical schools, sufficient ratios of basic standards items, and correlation between standards items related to accreditation decisions. @*Results@#After examining differences in accreditation decisions by the medical school’s characteristics, there were no significant correlations between accreditation standard items and accreditation decisions. Second, according to the number of schools that sufficiently or insufficiently met each standard item, from the total of 97 standard items, 20 (20.6%) were sufficiently fulfilled by all medical schools. Standard item 2-5-2 demonstrated the highest insufficiency ratio. Third, with respect to the standard item that had an effect on accreditation decisions, standard item 1-5-1 showed the highest correlation with the sufficiency rate. @*Conclusion@#The validity of accreditation standards items was assured as this study evaluated the post-2nd cycle accreditation standards items regardless of each medical school’s characteristics. The accreditation standards items were found to have a meaningful impact on the development of medical schools and qualitative improvement in medical education. The findings are expected to contribute to guaranteeing the validity and reliability of accreditation decisions and raising the quality of accreditation.

Comparative analysis of distance measurement on the rendering screen between dental CAD programs / 대한치과보철학회지

This study was to find out whether the rendering screen difference affect to measuring distance in a CAD program according to three types of CAD programs. Materials and methods: The model presented in ISO 12836 for dental scanner evaluation was reduced by 70%. This model was repeatedly scanned 15times using Trios II (3Shape, Denmark). Using the output STL file, 3Shape CAD, inLab 15, and ExoCAD programs were used to measure the horizontal distance (H) and vertical distance (V) between adjacent point angle, and for each experiment, three groups were set according to the CAD program type. Statistical analysis was performed using One-way ANOVA test and post hoc was performed using Dunnett T3 test. Results: In the horizontal and vertical distance measurement, there was no difference in the average of the measured values between the three groups according to the CAD program (P>.05). Conclusion: There were no effect of the difference in the rendering screen in the horizontal and vertical linear distance measurements of the inlay model on the dental CAD program.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Decrease Oxidative Stress in the Bowels of Interleukin-10 Knockout Mice

Background/Aims@#Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation mainly in the large intestine. The interleukin-10 knockout (IL-10 KO) mouse is a well-known animal model of IBD that develops spontaneous intestinal inflammation resembling Crohn’s disease. Oxidative stress is considered to be the leading cause of cell and tissue damage. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause direct cell injury and/or indirect cell injury by inducing the secretion of cytokines from damaged cells. This study evaluated the effects of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) on the progression of IBD. @*Methods@#In this study, human bone marrow-derived MSCs were injected into IL-10 KO mice (MSC). Oxidative stress and inflammation levels were evaluated in the large intestine and compared with those in control IL-10 KO mice (CON) and normal wild-type control mice (Wild). @*Results@#The levels of ROS (superoxide and hydrogen peroxidase) and a secondary end-product of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) were considerably higher in the CON, while superoxide dismutase and catalase levels were lower in the MSC. Inflammation-related marker (interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-4, and CD8) expression and inflammatory histological changes were much less pronounced in MSC than in CON. @*Conclusions@#MSCs affect the redox balance, leading to the suppression of IBD.

Trends in the study on medical education over the last 10 years, based on paper titles / 영남의대학술지

Medical education research subjects are incredibly diverse and have changed over time. This work in particular aims to compare and analyze research trends in medical education through the words used in the titles of these research papers. Academic Medicine (the journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges), Medical Teacher (the journal of the Association of Medical Education in Europe), the Korean Journal of Medical Education (KJME), and Korean Medical Education Review (KMER) were selected and analyzed for the purposes of this research. From 2009 to 2018, Academic Medicine and Medical Teacher published approximately 10 to 20 times more papers than the KJME and KMER. Frequently used words in these titles include “medical,” “student,” “education,” and “learning”. The words “clinical” and “learning” were used relatively often (7.80% to 13.66%) in Korean journals and Medical Teacher, but Academic Medicine used these phrases relatively less often (6.47% and 4.41%, respectively). Concern with such various topics as problem-based learning, team-based learning, program evaluations, burnout, e-learning, and digital indicates that Medical Teacher seems to primarily deal with teaching and learning methodologies, and Academic Medicine handles all aspects of medical education. The KJME and KMER did not cover all subjects, as they publish smaller papers. However, it is anticipated that research on new subjects, such as artificial intelligence in medical education, will occur in the near future.

Trends in the study on medical education over the last 10 years, based on paper titles / 영남의대학술지

Medical education research subjects are incredibly diverse and have changed over time. This work in particular aims to compare and analyze research trends in medical education through the words used in the titles of these research papers. Academic Medicine (the journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges), Medical Teacher (the journal of the Association of Medical Education in Europe), the Korean Journal of Medical Education (KJME), and Korean Medical Education Review (KMER) were selected and analyzed for the purposes of this research. From 2009 to 2018, Academic Medicine and Medical Teacher published approximately 10 to 20 times more papers than the KJME and KMER. Frequently used words in these titles include “medical,”“student,”“education,” and “learning”. The words “clinical” and “learning” were used relatively often (7.80% to 13.66%) in Korean journals and Medical Teacher, but Academic Medicine used these phrases relatively less often (6.47% and 4.41%, respectively). Concern with such various topics as problem-based learning, team-based learning, program evaluations, burnout, e-learning, and digital indicates that Medical Teacher seems to primarily deal with teaching and learning methodologies, and Academic Medicine handles all aspects of medical education. The KJME and KMER did not cover all subjects, as they publish smaller papers. However, it is anticipated that research on new subjects, such as artificial intelligence in medical education, will occur in the near future.

Curriculum Development for Preclinical Medical Education at Yeungnam University / 의학교육논단

After Yeungnam University's College of Medicine was established in 1979, the curriculum for a preclinical medical education course was developed and implemented. Several modifications have since been made to the curriculum which was driven by changes in national policies and in the medical education environment. In recent years, it has become necessary to complement the weaknesses or shortcomings in the curriculum that were discovered during the basic medical education assessment process of the medical college. Since 2009, Yeungnam University has run two medical courses: a 6-year college of medicine course and a 4-year medical school course. However, as a result of changes in national policy, Yeungnam University decided to offer only the 6-year college of medicine course with an entirely new curriculum which will be implemented in 2017. The new curriculum for the preclinical medical education course consists of 36 credits of cultural essentials courses, 44 credits of major required courses, and 2 credits of major elective courses. The curriculum development requires the support of the university and/or college, the ensured independence of the curriculum development organization, and the cooperation and attention of fellow professors. Continuous efforts are needed to check, evaluate, and improve the curriculum.

Comparison of resorbable plates and titanium plates for fixation stability of combined mandibular symphysis and angle fractures

OBJECTIVES: We compared resorbable plates with titanium plates for treatment of combined mandibular angle and symphyseal fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with mandibular angle and symphysis fractures were divided into two groups. The control (T) group received titanium plates while the experimental (R) group received resorbable plates. All procedures were carried out under general anesthesia using standard surgical techniques. We compared the frequency of wound dehiscence, development of infection, malocclusion, malunion, screw breakage, and any other technical difficulties between the two groups. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were included in the R group, where 39 resorbable plates were applied. The T group consisted of 16 patients who received 48 titanium plates. The mean age in the R and T groups was 28.29 and 24.23 years, respectively. Primary healing of the fractured mandible was obtained in all patients in both groups. Postoperative complications were minor and transient. Moreover, there were no significant differences in the rates of various complications between the two groups. Breakage of 3 screws during the perioperative period was seen in the R group, while no screws or plates were broken in the T group. CONCLUSION: Resorbable plates can be used to stabilize combined mandibular angle and symphysis fractures.

Outcomes of open versus closed treatment in the management of mandibular subcondylar fractures

OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical and radiological outcomes after closed reduction (CR) and open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) in the management of subcondylar fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight patients presenting with subcondylar fracture between January 2010 and March 2013 were evaluated retrospectively. Fifteen patients were treated with CR and 33 patients with ORIF. The clinical and radiologic parameters were evaluated during follow-up (mean, 7.06 months; range, 3 to 36 months). RESULTS: In the CR group, no patients had any problems with regard to the clinical parameters. The average period of maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) was 5.47 days. The preoperative average tangential angulation of the fractured fragment was 3.67degrees, and loss of ramus height was 2.44 mm. In the ORIF group, no clinical problems were observed, and the average period of MMF was 6.33 days. The preoperative average tangential angulation of the subcondylar fragment was 8.66degrees, and loss of ramus height was 3.61 mm. CONCLUSION: CR provided satisfactory clinical results, though ORIF provided more accurate reduction of the fractured fragment. So there is no distinct displacement of fractured fragment, CR should be selected than ORIF because of no need for surgery.

Academic burnout and selection-optimization-compensation strategy in medical students / 한국의학교육

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between academic demand, academic burnout, and the selection-optimization-compensation (SOC) strategy in medical students. METHODS: A total of 317 students at Yeungnam University, comprising 90 premedical course students, 114 medical course students, and 113 graduate course students, completed a survey that addressed the factors of academic burnout and the selection-optimization-compensation strategy. We analyzed variances of burnout and SOC strategy use by group, and stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS: There were significant differences in emotional exhaustion and cynicism between groups and year in school. In the SOC strategy, there were no significant differences between groups except for elective selection. The second-year medical and graduate students experienced significantly greater exhaustion (p<0.001), and first-year premedical students experienced significantly higher cynicism (p<0.001). By multiple regression analysis, subfactors of academic burnout and emotional exhaustion were significantly affected by academic demand (p<0.001), and 46% of the variance was explained. Cynicism was significantly affected by elective selection (p<0.05), and inefficacy was significantly influenced by optimization (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: To improve adaptation, prescriptive strategies and preventive support should be implemented with regard to academic burnout in medical school. Longitudinal and qualitative studies on burnout must be conducted.

Propofol-induced Immediate Early Gene Expression in Human Neuroblastoma Cell Lines / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: General anesthetics were known to induce expression of immediate early genes (IEGs), including c-fos and c-jun. However, mechanisms of IEG induction by general anesthetics were not fully understood. METHODS: IEG induction by propofol, a kind of intravenous anesthetics, and signal transduction pathways for propofol-induced IEG expression were investigated in human neuroblastoma cell line IMR32 and CHP134 with Northern and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Cell viability was significantly decreased in IMR32 and CHP134 treated with increasing concentrations of propofol. IMR32 was more sensitive to propofol-induced cytotoxicity than CHP134. Propofol did not affect the cell cycle profile of IMR32. Expression of cyclin A, cyclin B1, CDK4 and CDK6 was increased in IMR32 by propofol treatment in a time-dependent manner. However, expression of cyclin A and CDK4 was decreased in CHP134. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was increased in both IMR32 and CHP134 treated with propofol from 6 h to 24 h. c-fos and c-jun were induced by propofol treatment in both cells. Propofol also induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation in both cells. Pretreatment of PD98059, an MEK inhibitor, blocked propofol-induced c-fos and c-jun expression.Propofol treatment was decreased nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) expression in IMR32, but not in CHP134. CONCLUSIONS: Propofol-induced c-fos expression might be mediated through ERK phosphorylation in both IMR32 and CHP134. Propofol-induced cytotoxicity, changes in expressions of cell cycle regulatory proteins, expression of IEGs, ERK phosphorylation, and NF-kappa B expression were different between IMR32 and CHP134.

Gene Expression Changes of Drug-resistant Saos-2 Cells Induced by Anticancer Drug / 대한해부학회지

During the treatment of cancers, especially with anticancer drugs, the recurrence of cancer is the most important factor for survival rate. The most common cause of the recurrence is the resistance of cells to anticancer drugs. To explore and analyze the changes of gene expression during the induction of resistance by anticancer drugs in human osteogenic cancer cell line Saos-2. The drug resistance was induced with adriamycin, cisplatin or vincristine at 10(-7) M concentration of each and cDNA microarray was performed. Total RNA was purified from Saos-2, adriamycin-resistant (Saos-2AdR), cisplatin-resistant (Saos-2CpR) and vincristine-resistant (Saos-2VcR) and expressed genes were investigated with a Affymetrix Human HG-U133Plus2.0 GeneChip(TM). The genes of anticancer drug resistant cells that showed more than 2.5 fold expression change than Saos-2 were selected for differential expression. Four hundred seventeen genes were selected for Saos-2 vs Saos-2AdR. Two thousand five hundred thirty six genes were selected for Saos-2 vs Saos-2CpR. Two hundred twenty five genes were selected for Saos-2 vs Saos-2VcR. Eighty seven genes were selected for common differential expression. The results showed that many genes were changed in expression during the acquiring of resistance to anticancer drugs but most of genes were not in common among the three anticancer durg-resistant Saos-2. This means the different anticancer drug takes the different mechanism for acquiring resistance to anticancer drug even we use same cells.

Effects of Dexamethasone Withdrawal on Proliferation and Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells / 대한해부학회지

With potential of differentiation into many different lineages, mesenchymal stem cells have been candidate on cell therapy for recovery of injured body. Dexamethasone plays important role in mesenchymal stem cells differentiation and can derived into osteoblast, chondrocytes, adipocytes, and fibroblasts in vitro. There has been many studies on effect of dexamethasone for differentiation of MSCs with continuous exposure, but little work on the effect for deprivation during this progress. This result will be an important guild line for evaluation of transplanted MSCs after pretreatment with dexamethasone. In this study, dexamethasone was deprived by weekly withdrawal schedule in the process of differentiation induction by dexamethasone. During this period, expression of APase was evaluated as mark of osteoblast differentiation and number of BrdU incorporated cells were counted as index of proliferation. APase level of one or two week exposure groups decreased immediately after deprivation of dexamethasone and approached to control level at 4~5 week but three or four week exposure groups reached peak level at 3th week then decreased but still remained higher level than other groups. Dexamethasone exposure groups showed the trend of decreased in mitotic activity compared to control, but there were significant increase in mitosis after deprivation of dexamethasone. This pattern prominent in 6, 9, 12, 15 day exposure groups. These results showed that the effect of dexamethasone derived MSCs differentiation into osteoblasts is faint without full enough exposure and the period should be more than three weeks.

Effects of Dexamethasone on Proliferation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Long Term Culture / 체질인류학회지

Homeostasis of the body is maintained by balance of cell renewal, differentiation, and death. Dexamethasone has been used long time in field of MSCs research as differentiation inducer while, in contrast, there has been little work on the effect of dexamethasone on apoptosis and proliferation of MSCs. To determine the effect of dexamethasone on apoptosis and proliferation, MSCs were cultivated with (Dex) or without (Con) dexamethasone for 3 weeks. During this period weekly cell count, DNA assay, mitosis, apoptosis as well as alkaline phosphatase assay observation were recorded. DNA and cell number of Dex group was lower than Con group in early period but exceed at 3th week. There is no significant difference in mitosis between both groups whereas apoptosis frequency in Dex group was lower than that of in Con group. These results indicate that dexamethasone influences cell proliferation of MSCs in long term confluent culture by suppression of apoptosis.

Fenretinide Induced Apoptosis in Human Neuroblastoma Cell Lines / 체질인류학회지

Retinoids play an important role in growth, reproduction and differentiation. Recently, retinoids have been used to both protect and treat from various animal models of carcinogenesis. In this study the effect of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (fenretinide) on viability of human neuroblastoma cell lines were evaluated. For the evaluation of apoptosis of human neuroblastoma cell lines by fenretinide. MTT assay, cytoplasmic DNA fragmentation, TUNEL stain, and Western blot analysis were performed. In MTT assay, fenretinide inhibited the proliferation of CHP134, IMR32 and SH-SY5Y but not in PC12 cells. Cytoplasmic DNA fragmentation was induced by treament of fenretinide (10 micrometer) for 48 h in IMR32 cells. PARP cleavage was detected by Western blot analysis after 16 h of treatment of fenretinide in CHP134, IMR32 and SH-SY5Y. These fenretinide effects on growth inhibition and increased apoptosis followed to the time dependent manner. The fenretinide treatment did not affect the phosphorylation of MAP kinases (ERK, JNK, p38). There was no change of Bcl-x and Bad expression after treatment of fenretinide (1 micrometer) in neroblastoma cell lines. Pretreatement of PD98059, SB203580, LY294002, or genistein also did not affect fenretinide-induced PARP cleavage in neuroblastoma cell lines. From these results, the fenretinide-induced apoptosis is due to the PARP cleavage which occured MAP kinase signal cascades independently.

Arsenic Trioxide Induces A poptosis in Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma HT-29 Cells Through ROS / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: Treatment with arsenic trioxide (As2O3) results in a wide range of cellular effects that includes induction of apoptosis, inhibition of cell growth, promotion or inhibition of cellular differentiation, and inhibition of angiogenesis through a variety of mechanisms. The mechanisms of As2O3-induced cell death have been mainly studied in hematological cancers, and those mechanisms in solid cancers have yet to be clearly defined. In this study, the mechanisms by which As2O3 induces apoptosis in human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To examine the levels of apoptosis, HT-29 cells were treated with As2O3 and then we measured the percentage of Annexin V binding cells, the amount of ROS production and the mitochondrial membrane potential. Western blot analysis was performe to identify the activated caspases after As2O3 exposure, and we compared the possible target molecules of apoptosis. As2O3 treatment induced the loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase of ROS, as well as activation of caspase-3, -7, -9 and -10. RESULTS: As2O3 induced apoptosis via the production of reactive oxygen species and the loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential. As2O3 induced the activation of caspase-3, -7, -9 and -10. Furthermore, As2O3 treatment downregulates the Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 expressions, and the release of cytochrome c and an apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). Pretreating the HT-29 cells with N-acetyl-L-cysteine, which is a thiol-containing antioxidant, inhibited the As2O3- Induced Apoptosis and Caspase Activation. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results suggest that the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by As2O3 might play an important role in the regulation of As2O3-induced apoptosis. This cytotoxicity is mediated through a mitochondria-dependent apoptotic signal pathway in HT-29 cells.

The Expression of Estrogen Receptors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Korean Patients

Expression of estrogen receptors (ER)-alpha and -beta, as well as androgen receptor (AR), in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is thought to be correlated with prognosis, survival, and male prevalence of HCC. These hypotheses are based on investigations of European patients; however the expression patterns of these receptors in Asian patients are largely unknown. In this study, we collected liver carcinoma and peritumor tissues from 32 patients (9 females and 23 males) in South Korea. The expression of ERs and ARs was studied using RT-PCR. Wild-type ER-alpha and AR were expressed in all of the samples investigated, and their expression was independent of the causal virus or patient sex. Expression of the ER-alpha variant was independent of sex (100% female vs. 91.3% male) and HCV and HBV status (91.3% vs. 100%). Wild-type ER-beta was expressed more often in HCV patients than in HBV patients (95.7% vs. 44.4%; p < 0.05). In conclusion, the stronger ER-alpha variant expression in HCC tissues implies that this variant has an important role in HCC development. However, at least in Korean patients, expression of the ER-alpha variant (vER-alpha) is not related to male HCC prevalence. In addition, the predominant expression of ER-beta in HCV patients suggests that it plays an important role in HCV-induced liver disease.

The Medical Science Research and Development Supported by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation

This study examined ways of promoting research in the medical sciences by evaluating trends in research funding, and the present status of research funding by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF). This study analyzed statistics from KOSEF from 1978 to 2003 to examine support for research. In medical science field, group-based programs receive more funding than do individual-based programs. The proportion of research funds allocated to the medical sciences has increased markedly each year. Researchers in the medical sciences have submitted more articles to Science Citation Index (SCI) journals than to non-SCI journals, relative to other fields. Researchers supported by the Mission-Oriented Basic Grants program have published the majority of these papers, followed by those supported by the Programs for Leading Scientists, Regional Scientists, Leading Women Scientists, Young Scientists, and Promising Women Scientists, in that order. Funding by KOSEF reflects many decades of government support for research and development, the development and maintenance of necessary infrastructure, and the education and training of medical scientists.

Effects of Naloxone on Morphine Analgesia and Spinal c-fos Expression in Rat Formalin Test / 대한통증학회지

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to evaluate the dose-related effects of naloxone on morphine analgesia in the rat formalin test, and observe the correlation of pain behavior and spinal c-fos expression induced by a formalin injection. METHODS: Fifty rats were divided into five groups; control, morphine (morphine pre-treated, intra-peritoneal injection of 0.1 mg of morphine 5 min prior to formalin injection), and three naloxone groups, which were divided according to the administered dose-ratio of naloxone to morphine; 20: 1 (5microgram), 10: 1 (10microgram), and 1: 1 (100microgram) representing the low-, medium-, and high-dose naloxone groups, respectively, were injected intra-peritoneally 16 min after a formalin. A fifty ul of 5% formalin was injected into the right hind paw. All rats were observed for their pain behavior according to the number of flinches during phases 1 (2-3, 5-6 min) and 2 (1 min per every 5 min from 10 to 61 min). The spinal c-fos expression was quantitatively analyzed at 1 and 2 hours after the formalin injection using a real-time PCR. RESULTS: The morphine pre-treated (morphine and three naloxone) groups during phase 1, and the morphine, low- and medium-dose naloxone groups during phase 2, showed significantly less flinches compared to those of the control (P < 0.05). In the three naloxone groups, the numbers of flinches were transiently reduced following the naloxone injection in the low- and medium-dose groups compared to those of the morphine group (P < 0.05). The duration of the reduced flinches was longer in the medium-dose group (P < 0.05). The high-dose group revealed immediate increases in flinches immediately after the naloxone injection compared to those of the morphine, low- and medium-dose groups (P < 0.05 for each). The spinal c-fos expression showed no significant patterns between the experimental groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that relatively low-dose naloxone (1/20 to 1/10 dose-ratio of morphine) transiently potentiates morphine analgesia; whereas, high-dose (equal dose-ratio of morphine) reverses the analgesia, and the spinal c-fos expression does not always correlate with pain behavior in the rat formalin test.

Profile of Gene Expression Changes During Doxorubicin Induced Apoptosis of Saos-2 / 영남의대학술지

BACKGROUND: Doxorubicin has proved to be a useful chemotherapeutic agent especially for osteogenic sarcoma. It induces cancer cell death via apoptosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To explore and analyze the changes of gene expression during doxorubicin induced apoptosis on human osteogenic sarcoma, Saos-2 cell, cDNA microarray was performed. After treatment with doxorubicin, total RNA was purified and expressed genes were investigated with a 17k human cDNA microarray. RESULTS: For analysis of the cDNA microarray, the genes were filtered using the sum of the median value of Cy3 and Cy5 signal intensity of greater than 800. Expression of 264 genes was changed by more than 2 fold, and the expression of 35 genes was changed more than 3 fold after treatment with doxorubicin. The genes were primarily related to cell death, cell growth and maintenance, signal transduction, cellular component, transport, and metabolism. CONCLUSION: Treatment with doxorubicin induced expressional change of many genes. Some of the genes might be related with apoptosis directly or indirectly. Further study is now needed to characterize these genes.