Validation of the Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Tenebrio Molitor Larva Oil in a Colitis Mouse Model.

Ulcerative colitis is caused by various external factors and is an inflammatory disease that causes decreased intestinal function. Tenebrio molitor larvae contain more than 30 % fat, and the fat component consists of 45 % oleic acid, 20 % linoleic acid and 20 % polyunsaturated fatty acids. In this study, after administering Tenebrio molitor larva oil (TMLO) in a dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis mouse model, the pathological findings and inflammatory markers of colitis were analysed to assess whether a colitis mitigation effect was achieved. In the TMLO-administered group, the colon length increased, the spleen weight decreased, and the body weight increased compared with that in the DSS group. In addition, the disease activity index level decreased, the mRNA expression level of inflammatory cytokines in the colon decreased, and the myeloperoxidase activity level significantly decreased. Also, the activity of the NF-κB pathway involved in the regulation of the inflammatory response was lower in the TMLO group than in the DSS group. Taken together, these results suggest that TMLO suppresses occurrence of acute ulcerative colitis in the DSS mouse model. Therefore, TMLO has the potential to be developed as a health food for the prevention and treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Treatment with K6PC-5, a selective stimulator of SPHK1, ameliorates intestinal homeostasis in an animal model of Huntington's disease.

Emerging evidence indicates that Huntington's disease (HD) may be described as multi-organ pathology. In this context, we and others have contributed to demonstrate that the disease is characterized by an impairment of the homeostasis of gastro-intestinal (GI) tract. Sphingolipids represent a class of molecules involved in the regulation and maintenance of different tissues and organs including GI system. In this study, we investigated whether the alteration of Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) metabolism, previously described in human HD brains and animal models, is also detectable peripherally in R6/2 HD mice. Our findings indicate, for the first time, that sphingolipid metabolism is perturbed early in the disease in the intestinal tract of HD mice and, its modulation by K6PC-5, a selective activator of S1P synthesis, preserved intestinal integrity and homeostasis. These results further support the evidence that modulation of sphingolipid pathways may represent a potential therapeutic option in HD and suggest that it has also the potential to counteract the peripheral disturbances which may usually complicate the management of the disease and affect patient's quality of life.

The clinical and histological effect of home-use, combination blue-red LED phototherapy for mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris in Korean patients: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Blue and red light have been reported to have beneficial effects on acne. However, there has been no double-blind, randomized study of acne treatment for combined blue and red light-emitting diode (LED) devices, and the associated molecular mechanisms have rarely been investigated. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and histological changes of combined blue and red LED phototherapy for acne vulgaris. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with mild-to-moderate acne were randomly assigned to either a home-use irradiation group using an LED device, or a control group using a sham device. The treatment group was instructed to serially irradiate their forehead and cheeks with 420-nm blue light and 660-nm red light for 2.5 min twice daily for 4 weeks. RESULTS: At the final visit at 12 weeks, both inflammatory and noninflammatory acne lesions had decreased significantly, by 77% and 54%, respectively, in the treatment group. No significant difference was observed in the control group. In the treatment group, sebum output reduction, attenuated inflammatory cell infiltrations and a decreased size of the sebaceous gland were found. The immunostaining intensities for interleukin (IL)-8, IL-1α, matrix metalloproteinase-9, toll-like receptor-2, nuclear factor-κB, insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor and sterol response element binding protein (SREBP)-1 were reduced concomitantly. Messenger RNA expression of SREBP-1c was also decreased. No severe adverse reactions were reported. CONCLUSIONS: This LED phototherapy was safe and effective for treating not only inflammatory but also noninflammatory acne lesions, with good compliance. The experimental results correlated well with clinical results, partly elucidating the related molecular mechanisms.

Two cases of clear cell sarcoma with different clinical and genetic features: cutaneous type with BRAF mutation and subcutaneous type with KIT mutation.

Clear cell sarcoma (CCS), also known as malignant melanoma of soft parts, is a rare malignancy constituting approximately 1% of all soft-tissue sarcomas. It occurs predominantly in the lower extremities of young adults, manifesting as a deep, painless, slow-growing mass. CCS is sometimes confused with other types of melanoma because of its melanocytic differentiation. Although BRAF and KIT mutations are well-known melanocytic tumour-promoting mutations frequently found in cutaneous melanoma, they are rare or absent in CCS. We present two cases of CCS with different clinical and genetic features. Both female patients, aged 25 and 20 years, presented with a palpable nodule on a lower extremity. Biopsies of both tumours revealed features diagnostic of CCS. Each tumour cell was positive for S100 protein and HMB-45. However, one patient's tumour was localized to the dermis, with many multinucleated giant cells, whereas the other was located in the deep subcutaneous fat layer near bone. Fluorescence in situ hybridization demonstrated the presence of a characteristic Ewing sarcoma RNA-binding protein (EWSR)1 gene rearrangement in both cases. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of the PCR product revealed an EWSR1-activating transcription factor 1 type 1 fusion transcript in both cases. In addition, we detected BRAF mutation in the dermal type and KIT mutation in the subcutaneous type. It is of interest that the BRAF and KIT mutations are known to be very rare in CCS. On the basis of our observations, we suggest that mutation inhibitors may be useful in selected patients with mutated CCS lineages.

Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection-associated hydroa vacciniforme-like eruption and Behçet's-like orogenital ulcers.

The cutaneous manifestations of chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection can be diverse. Among them, hydroa vacciniforme-like eruption is one of the best-known features. Although rare, mucosal ulcers have been reported to be associated with EBV as a result of primary infection or immune suppression. We describe a 65-year-old female with recurrent necrotic papulovesicles on the face and both arms for 2 years. She also complained of recurrent oral and genital mucosal ulcers developing simultaneously with skin eruptions. They appeared periodically during the spring and summer and were triggered or aggravated by sun exposure. Skin biopsies from the face and genitalia showed identical findings with dense lymphocytic infiltrations. In addition, in situ hybridization revealed EBV-positive lymphoid cells in both specimens. To our knowledge, this is the first case of serologically and pathologically proven chronic active EBV infection presenting hydroa vacciniforme-like eruption and orogenital ulcers at the same time in one patient.

Total hip arthroplasty for tuberculous coxarthrosis.

Forty-four total hip prostheses were implanted in thirty-eight patients who had tuberculous arthritis of the hip. The interval between active disease and total hip arthroplasty ranged from three months to forty-five years. The length of follow-up averaged 45.6 months (range, twenty-four to eighty-five months). Cultures of material and specimens of tissue that were taken intraoperatively were positive in four hips. The mean functional rating of the hip was 62 points preoperatively and 85 points at final follow-up. Thirty-one patients had a good result; one had to have a revision because of loosening of a component. Six patients had reactivation of the disease that was controlled satisfactorily by chemotherapy alone or in combination with débridement of sinus tracts without removal of the prosthesis. There was a major difference in the percentage of recurrences in patients who had inactive disease for less than ten years (six of fifteen patients) compared with those who had inactive disease for more than ten years (no patients). Total hip arthroplasty appears to be a safe procedure for patients who have quiescent tuberculosis as well as for patients who have active tuberculosis of the hip when there is no gross evidence of active infection.

Spontaneous regeneration of the lateral malleolus after traumatic loss in a three-year-old boy: a case report with seven-year follow-up.

We describe a three-year-old boy who had spontaneous regeneration of the entire lateral malleolus after injury, including the epiphysis, physis and metaphysis.

Innominate osteotomy for the treatment of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.

A retrospective study was performed in 37 patients who underwent innominate osteotomy for the treatment of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. The majority of the patients (81%) were more than 6 years old, and the mean age was 7 years and 6 months. Thirty five hips were Catterall group III or IV, and 2 hips that had clinical and radiological "head at risk" signs were group II. The time interval between surgery and the final follow-up ranged from 2 to 6 years with a mean of 3 years and 10 months. Twenty five of 37 patients had good clinical results, and radiographs showed that the sphericity of the femoral head in the older age (> 8 years) group was poorer, which demonstrated a similar pattern to the clinical results in this age group. We conclude that innominate osteotomy is a safe and effective procedure in severe Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and this operation should be carefully selected as a treatment method in the appropriate age group.

Congenital dislocation of the hip--a long-term follow-up in Korea.

The results of fifty-eight congenitally dislocated hips in fifty-four children, who were between two months and eleven years old when treatment was begun, have been reviewed. Thirteen hips were treated by closed reduction, seventeen hips by open reduction, seventeen hips by Salter's innominate osteotomy, five hips by Klisic operation, and six hips by other operations. At an average 5.1 year follow-up (range, three to twelve years), a 91% satisfactory result was obtained when treatment was started under two years of age. With preoperative traction, in the cases when the femoral head was pulled down below to the zero station, the clinical result was satisfactory in 83%. We think that the treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip should be started before two years of age and that the femoral head should be pulled down below to the zero station to prevent avascular necrosis, and to obtain a satisfactory result.

Ossifying fibroma.

Our experience includes seven cases of ossifying fibroma. The condition also appears in the literature under diagnostic names such as congenital fibrous dysplasia, congenital osteitis fibrosa, congenital fibrous defect of the tibia, and osteofibrous dysplasia of the tibia and fibula. The lesions develop in childhood and are located in the diaphysis of the tibia, or fibula. Of seven patients, we performed wide excision with free vascularized fibular graft in five cases, wide resection of the distal one-third of the fibula in one case, and curettage and bone graft in one case. Two of the patients who had wide excision with free vascularized fibular graft had recurrence. One case of recurrence occurred where incomplete wide excision with free-vascularized fibular graft was performed because the lesion was too close to the distal epiphysis of the tibia. One of the patients who had curettage and bone graft also had recurrence. It was concluded that children who have an ossifying fibroma requiring surgery can safely be treated with wide excision with or without free-vascularized fibular graft.

An experimental study of healing of the partially severed flexor tendon in chickens.

There is a lack of clinical and experimental studies of the treatment of incompletely transected tendons. The controversy concerning the source of flexor tendon nutrients is of important clinical concern in healing of the injured tendon; thus, the flexor tendon blood supply has cited as a reason for using specific tendon suture techniques, and as a rationale for preserving the superficialis tendon and its vincula during tendon repair surgery. Our knowledge of the normal physiology of digital flexor tendons and the mechanism of their healing process is deficient. The aim of this study was to investigate the relative importance of the synovial fluid and the blood supply respectively for the healing of partially severed flexor tendons. We observed the sequential histological and vascular changes which occur in healing of the partial lacerations in the dorsal and plantar aspects of the tendons. We observed the vascularities of the two partially severed tendon groups after injection of microfil and india ink through the femoral artery. In the healing process there was no sequential histological difference between the dorsal and the plantar severed tendons. The vascularity patterns of the healing tendons were significantly increased and the hypervascularity of dorsal severed tendons was greater than that of plantar severed tendons. Partially severed tendons were completely healed without surgical repair with dense collagen fibers without adhesion in most cases. We concluded from this study that the blood vessels appeared to play a significant role in the healing of the severed flexor tendons. An intact synovial environment did not seem to be required for healing of the severed tendon. It is not necessary to surgically repair the partially severed tendon for prevention of rupture and adhesion.

Induction of osteochondromas by periosteal resection.

Forty immature and 40 mature rabbits which received periosteal resection from the proximal metaphyses or diaphyses of tibiae were evaluated for the occurrence of osteochondromas at the sites of periosteal defects. Thirteen of 20 immature tibiae with the periosteal defects at their proximal metaphyses showed osteochondromas covered by hyaline cartilage caps. We assume that the occurrence of osteochondroma at the metaphyseal region of growing long bone, where the periosteal defects were made, is due primarily to a decrease in the power of the periosteum to control the circumferential growth of the metaphysis, and is due secondarily to an abnormal proliferation of cartilage progenitors located in Ranvier's groove.