Factors Contributing to the Self-Reported Prevalence of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity in Public Facility Workers and the General Population of Korea.

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), an acquired disorder with multiple recurrent symptoms, has been studied for its association with diverse environmental factors. The present study investigated the factors associated with the self-reported prevalence of MCS in public facility workers and the general population in Korea. The Quick Environmental Exposure Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI) questionnaire was obtained from public facility workers (N=530) and the general population (N=500) to determine the prevalence of MCS and the degree of its risk. Information about demographic characteristics, subjective perceptions of sick building syndrome or sick house syndrome or allergy (SBS/SHS/Allergy), and certain home- or workplace-related events were also obtained. There was not a statistical difference between the public facility workers and the general population in the QEESI scores. The overall prevalence of MCS was 14.4% and there was no statistical difference between the two groups. Regarding the overall degree of risk of MCS, 21.8% of the study subjects were categorized as "very suggestive", and there was no significant difference between the two groups. Gender and the subjective perception of SBS/SHS/Allergy significantly affected the prevalence of MCS and the MCS risk criteria. Considering the absence of diagnostic criteria and/or treatment methods for MCS in Korea, these results can be utilized in establishing future strategies to manage MCS.

Feasibility of a robot-assisted thoracoscopic lymphadenectomy along the recurrent laryngeal nerves in radical esophagectomy for esophageal squamous carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Lymph node dissection along bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLNs) is an essential component of radical esophagectomy for esophageal squamous carcinoma. However, it is associated with significant morbidity and requires a great deal of skill when performed with minimally invasive surgery. METHODS: Between October 2010 and July 2012, 40 consecutive patients underwent a robot-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy and total mediastinal lymphadenectomy. The lymph nodes along the dorsal side of the RLNs were removed in the initial 18 patients (group 1), and the RLNs were skeletonized by dissection of all the lymph nodes and surrounding fatty tissues in the following 22 patients (group 2). RESULTS: All but one patient underwent a successful robot-assisted, thoracoscopic esophagectomy. The mean operation time was 428.6 ± 75.0 min, and the mean robot console time was 186.7 ± 52.1 min. An average of 42.6 ± 14.1 nodes was retrieved, and the mean number of dissected nodes from the mediastinum and the RLN chains were 25.5 ± 9.6 and 9.6 ± 6.5, respectively. One mortality occurred (2.5%), and the incidences of pneumonia and RLN palsy were 12.5 and 20%, respectively. The mean robot console time was longer in group 2 (211.4 ± 49.5 min) than in group 1 (156.6 ± 38.2 min) (p < 0.001), and group 2 had higher mean numbers of dissected nodes from the mediastinum (30.3 ± 7.9 vs 19.6 ± 8.2; p < 0.001) and the RLN chains (13.5 ± 5.7 vs 4.8 ± 3.6; p < 0.001). Although RLN palsy was more common in group 2 (31.8 vs 5.6%; p = 0.054), all palsies resolved within 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Robot-assisted thoracoscopic lymphadenectomy along bilateral RLNs was technically feasible and safe. Skeletonization of the RLNs yields more lymph nodes, but efforts should be made to decrease the incidence of RLN palsy.

Development of a surface plasmon resonance-based immunosensor for the rapid detection of cardiac troponin I.

The concentration of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in blood is an important marker for heart muscle cell damage. A surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based immunosensor was devised for the rapid and specific detection of cTnI. It was constructed by crosslinking a monoclonal antibody P-II-13, which was generated against a loop region (aa 84-94) of cTnI protein as an epitope peptide, onto a chemically modified thin gold film. The performance of the sensor was examined with respect to the SPR signal intensity versus cTnI concentration. The signal intensity was directly correlated with the cTnI concentration in the range of 0-160 µg/l. The sensor signal was saturated when the concentration of cTnI approached 660 µg/l with the SPR intensity of 172 RU. The lower detection limit of the sensor was 68 ng/l cTnI, which was comparable to ELISA-based commercial cTnI detection systems.

AngioDB: database of angiogenesis and angiogenesis-related molecules.

Angiogenesis is the formation of new capillaries sprouting from pre-existing vessels. Angiogenesis occurs in a variety of normal physiological and pathological conditions and is regulated by a balance of stimulatory and inhibitory angiogenic factors. The control of this balance may fail and result in the formation of a pathologic capillary network during the development of many diseases. Therefore, we developed the angiogenesis database (AngioDB), which can provide a signaling network of angiogenesis-related biomolecules in human. Each record of AngioDB consisted of 12 fields and was developed by using a relational database management system. For the retrieval of data, Active Server Page (ASP) technology was integrated in this system. Users can access the database by a query or imagemap browsing program. The retrieving system also provides a list of angiogenesis-related molecules classified by three categories, and the database has an external link to NCBI databases. AngioDB is available via the Internet at http://angiodb.snu.ac.kr/.

Identification of novel anti-angiogenic factors by in silico functional gene screening method.

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels out of pre-existing capillaries, occurs in a variety of pathophysiological conditions, and is regulated by a balance of angiogenic activators and inhibitors. To identify novel angiogenic factors, we developed a gene screening method by combining the prediction analysis of transcription factor (TF) binding site and the chromosomal localization analysis. First, we analyzed the promoter sequences from known angiogenesis-related factors using the MATINSPECTOR program in TRANSFAC database. Interestingly, we found that the binding site of LMO2 complex is highly conserved in the promoter regions of these factors. Second, we analyzed chromosome loci based on the hypothesis that angiogenesis-related factors might be co-localized in a specific chromosomal band. We found that angiogenesis-related factors are localized in specific 14 chromosomal bands including 5q31 and 19q13 using AngioDB and LocusLink database mining. From these two approaches, we identified 32 novel candidates that have the LMO2 complex binding site in their promoter and are located on one of 14 chromosomal bands. Among them, human recombinant troponin T and spectrin markedly inhibited the neovascularization in vivo and in vitro. Collectively, we suggest that the combination of the prediction analysis of TF binding site and the chromosomal localization analysis might be a useful strategy for gene screening of angiogenesis.

Microarray-based analysis of anti-angiogenic activity of demethoxycurcumin on human umbilical vein endothelial cells: crucial involvement of the down-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase.

cDNA microarray-based gene expression analysis has been successfully employed to explore the action mechanism and to validate the targets of several drugs. In the present study, we evaluated anti-angiogenic activity of demethoxycurcumin (DC), a structural analog of curcumin, isolated from Curcuma aromatica, and investigated the effect of DC on genetic reprogramming in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) using cDNA microarray analysis. Of 1024 human cancer-focused genes arrayed, 187 genes were up-regulated and 72 genes were down-regulated at least 2-fold by DC. Interestingly, 9 angiogenesis-related genes were down-regulated over 5-fold in response to DC, suggesting that the genetic reprogramming was crucially involved in anti-angiogenesis by the compound. To verify the results obtained from cDNA microarray analysis, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), the product of one of the angiogenesis-related genes down-regulated over 5-fold by DC, was investigated using gelatin zymography. DC potently inhibited the expression of MMP-9, yet showed no direct effect on its activity. These data show that gene expressional change of MMP-9 is a major mediator for angiogenesis inhibition by DC. All genes identified and microarray data are available on the web at http://dasan.sejong.ac.kr/~bioprobe/.

Hydrazinocurcumin, a novel synthetic curcumin derivative, is a potent inhibitor of endothelial cell proliferation.

Curcumin and some of its derivatives were known as in vivo inhibitors of angiogenesis. In present study, a novel curcumin derivative, named hydrazinocurcumin (HC) was synthesized and examined for its biological activities. HC potently inhibited the proliferation of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) at a nanomolar concentration (IC(50)=520 nM) without cytotoxicity. In vivo and in vitro angiogenesis experiments showed HC as a new candidate for anti-angiogenic agent.

Hydrazinocurcumin, a novel synthetic curcumin derivative, is a potent inhibitor of endothelial cell proliferation.

Curcumin and some of its derivatives were known as in vivo inhibitors of angiogenesis. In present study, a novel curcumin derivative, named hydrazinocurcumin (HC) was synthesized and examined for its biological activities. HC potently inhibited the proliferation of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) at a nanomolar concentration (IC(50)=520 nM) without cytotoxicity. In vivo and in vitro angiogenesis experiments showed HC as a new candidate for anti-angiogenic agent.