Sex determination of Joseon people skeletons based on anatomical, cultural and molecular biological clues

Sex determination is very integral to examinations conducted by anatomists on human skeletons discovered in the archaeological field. In Korea, as in other countries, cultural or anatomical information has been the tool of first resort in making such determinations. In cases in which anatomical examination has revealed only borderline characteristics, PCR-based analysis of X/Y-chromosome genes has been employed. Even so, there are as yet very few reports on how accurately the respective results correspond with each other. In this study on 34 examined medieval Korean skeletons, 11 (32.3%) showed perfectly matching results for the three methods of sex determination. In the cases in which the cultural and anatomical findings were discordant, the amelogenin assay corroborated either the former or the latter. Although we must admit the relatively limited role of aDNA analysis, when only very small amounts of amplifiable DNA remain, we believe that the amelogenin assay can be very meaningful to Korean anatomists when employed in adjunct to conventional anatomically or culturally based sex determination.

Risk Factors for Intrahepatic Recurrence after Resection of Hepatocellular Carcinomas in Patients with Hepatitis B Virus Infection

PURPOSE

Although surgical resection offers patients with HCC the chance of a cure, the post-resection tumor recurrence rate is high, with reported cumulative 5-year tumor recurrence rates ranging from 40 to 70%. The objective of this study was to investigate risk factors for intrahepatic recurrence after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma, especially in patients with hepatitis B virus infection.

METHODS

Between January 1999 and December 2003, 59 patients in our Hospital with hepatitis B virus infection underwent liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical, biological, and histopathological characteristics of these patients were collected and tested for their prognostic significance using a Chi-square test and a Student's t-test. Time to recurrence and survival rate were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Of the 59 patients who underwent liver resection, 24 (41%) experienced intrahepatic recurrence. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of total enrolled patients were 83%, 63%, and 42%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates after recurrence were 87%, 52%, and 20%, respectively. The risk factors for early recurrence were elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level (p=0.044) and larger tumor size (p=0.049). For late recurrence, greater tumor size (p=0.039) was the only risk factor.

CONCLUSION

Tumor size and serum aspartate aminotransferase are risk factors of intrahepatic recurrence after resection of HCC in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. This finding indicates that patients who have these risk factors should be under more careful supervision and have more aggressive follow-up.

Hemodynamic impact of fetal-variant Willisian circle on cerebral circulation: a duplex ultrasonography study

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The Willisian circle can redistribute the vertebrobasilar flow and the reduction of flow is attributable to orthrostatic presyncope. To evaluate this hemodynamic aspect, we investigated anterior and posterior cerebral blood flow (CBF) volume distributions according to the variation of the Willisian circle, and compared those between controls and patients with presyncope.

METHODS

Subjects underwent cerebral CT angiography and color-coded duplex sonography measuring flow volumes of the internal carotid artery (ICAs) and vertebral artery (VAs). According to clinical manifestations and Willisian configurations, CBF volume patterns were analyzed.

RESULTS

Between the presyncope (n = 25) and control groups (n = 76), the prevalence of fetal-variant Willisian configuration (48% vs. 21%, p = 0.004) and posterior CBF volume (126 ± 85 vs. 165 ± 64 ml/min, p = 0.015) was significantly different, but A1 morphology, anterior CBF, and total CBF volumes were not. Total CBF volume was 769 ± 176 ml/min (80% ICAs and 20% VAs). The posterior CBF volume lowered significantly (172 ± 70 vs. 122 ± 62 vs. 92 ± 44 ml/min; p < 0.001) toward the two-sided fetal type variation, although total CBF volume is similar among the three groups (p = 0.742).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggests that Willisian configuration contributes to orthostatic presyncope and flow distribution of the cerebral circulation.

Expression of TASK-2 and its upregulation by B cell receptor stimulation in WEHI-231 mouse immature B cells

Stimulation of B cell receptors (BCR ligation) induces apoptosis of immature B cells, which is critical to the elimination of self-reactive clones. In the mouse immature B cell line WEHI-231, the authors previously reported two types of background K+ channels with large (∼300 pS, LKbg) and medium (∼100 pS, MKbg) conductance in divalent cation-free conditions. While the authors have recently identified LKbg as TREK-2, the molecular nature of MKbg is unknown yet. In the present study, the authors found that BCR ligation markedly increased the background K+ conductance of WEHI-231. A single-channel study revealed that MKbg activity is increased by BCR ligation and that the biophysical properties (unitary conductance and pH sensitivity) of MKbg are consistent with those of TWIK-related acid-sensitive K+ channel 2 (TASK-2). The expression of TASK-2 and its upregulation by BCR ligation were confirmed by RT-PCR and immunoblot assays in WEHI-231. The BCR ligation-induced increase of K+ current was prevented by calcineurin inhibitors (cyclosporine A or FK506), and also by TASK-2-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection (si-TASK-2). Furthermore, si-TASK-2 attenuated the apoptosis of WEHI-231 caused by BCR ligation. TASK-2 activity and its mRNA were also confirmed in the primary splenic B cells of mouse. Summarizing, the authors report for the first time the expression of TASK-2 in B cells and surmise that the upregulation of TASK-2 by BCR ligation is associated with the apoptosis of immature B cells.

Comparison of diamond-like carbon-coated nitinol stents with or without polyethylene glycol grafting and uncoated nitinol stents in a canine iliac artery model

OBJECTIVE

Neointimal hyperplasia is a major complication of endovascular stent placement with consequent in-stent restenosis or occlusion. Improvements in the biocompatibility of stent designs could reduce stent-associated thrombosis and in-stent restenosis. We hypothesised that the use of a diamond-like carbon (DLC)-coated nitinol stent or a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-DLC-coated nitinol stent could reduce the formation of neointimal hyperplasia, thereby improving stent patency with improved biocompatibility.

METHODS

A total of 24 stents were implanted, under general anaesthesia, into the iliac arteries of six dogs (four stents in each dog) using the carotid artery approach. The experimental study dogs were divided into three groups: the uncoated nitinol stent group (n = 8), the DLC-nitinol stent group (n = 8) and the PEG-DLC-nitinol stent group (n = 8).

RESULTS

The mean percentage of neointimal hyperplasia was significantly less in the DLC-nitinol stent group (26.7±7.6%) than in the nitinol stent group (40.0±20.3%) (p = 0.021). However, the mean percentage of neointimal hyperplasia was significantly greater in the PEG-DLC-nitinol stent group (58.7±24.7%) than in the nitinol stent group (40.0±20.3%) (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that DLC-coated nitinol stents might induce less neointimal hyperplasia than conventional nitinol stents following implantation in a canine iliac artery model; however, the DLC-coated nitinol stent surface when reformed with PEG induces more neointimal hyperplasia than either a conventional or DLC-coated nitinol stent.

Exercise training increases inwardly rectifying K(+) current and augments K(+)-mediated vasodilatation in deep femoral artery of rats

AIMS

A moderate increase in extracellular [K(+)] ([K(+)](e)) induces relaxation of small arteries by activating inwardly rectifying K(+) current (I(Kir)). The K(+)-induced vasodilatation is an important mechanism for exercise-induced hyperaemia in skeletal muscle. We investigated whether I(Kir) and K(+)-induced vasodilatation are enhanced in deep femoral arteries (DFAs) from exercise-trained rats (ET rats; treadmill running for 20 min at 20 m/min, 3 days/week for 2 weeks). The effects of exercise training on K(+)-induced vasodilatation and I(Kir) were also investigated in cerebral (CA) and mesenteric arteries.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The K(+)-induced vasodilatation of DFAs and the density of I(Kir) and voltage-gated K(+) current (I(Kv)) were increased in DFA myocytes of ET rats. The myogenic tone of the DFA was unchanged by exercise. Although similar functional up-regulations of I(Kir) and I(Kv) were observed in CA myocytes, the K(+)-induced vasodilatation was not increased in the CA of ET rats. Interestingly, concomitant to the increases in I(Kir) and I(Kv), background Na(+) conductance was also increased in the CA myocytes. However, such an effect was not observed in DFA myocytes from ET rats. Neither I(Kir) nor K(+)-induced vasodilatation was observed in mesenteric arteries of ET rats.

CONCLUSION

The present study provides evidence that regular exercise up-regulates I(Kir) in DFA and CA myocytes. Although the increase in I(Kir) was observed in two types of arteries, augmentation of K(+)-induced relaxation was observed only in the DFA of ET rats, possibly due to the increased Na(+) conductance in CA myocytes. The increases in I(Kir) and K(+)-induced vasodilatation of the arteries of skeletal muscle suggest novel mechanisms of improved exercise hyperaemia with physical training.

Identification of oxidized serum albumin in the cerebrospinal fluid of ischaemic stroke patients

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

  Extensive evidence has shown that oxidative stress mediates neuronal death in animal models of hypoxic-ischaemia. Brain biomarkers of oxidative stress need to be identified in order to better understand and treat brain damage in human stroke patients. The present study was conducted to identify potential target proteins of oxidative stress in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of stroke patients with acute ischaemic brain injury.

METHODS

  We performed two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to separate protein samples obtained from the CSF of control and stroke patients. To determine protein oxidation levels, oxyblot was then used to detect protein carbonyls that were determined by formation of a stable 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNP) product using an anti-DNP antibody.

RESULTS

  We found that oxidation of serum albumin was increased in the CSF from stroke patients as well as rats who underwent permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (6.5%, 23%, respectively). In stroke patients, oxidized albumin levels correlated to neurologic indications.

CONCLUSIONS

  The present study suggests that oxidized albumin in CSF can be utilized as an oxidative stress marker in human stroke patients.

High-throughput DNA hypermethylation profiling in different ovarian epithelial cancer subtypes using universal bead array

DNA hypermethylation is common and plays a critical role in the regulation of gene expression. It is considered a major cause of carcinogenesis. High-throughput profiling method has been developed to analyze the methylation status of hundreds of pre-selected genes simultaneously. The aim of this study was to analyze promoter hypermethylation profiles of each subtype of ovarian epithelial cancer (OEC), to improve the understanding of the role of epigenetic silencing in carcinogenesis. DNA hypermethylation profiles on fresh frozen tissue samples of 5 serous, 3 mucinous, 5 endometrioid and 4 clear cell types of OEC, as well as 5 normal ovarian tissue samples as control. We used a high-throughput method for analyzing the hypermethylation status of 1,505 CpG loci selected from 871 genes simultaneously by GoldenGate Methylation Cancer Panel I (Illumina Human-6 v2 Expression BeadChip). Methylation status of seven genes was verified by methylation specific PCR (MSP). We identified 20, 37, 15 and 56 hypermethylated CpG locations in serous, mucinous, endometrioid and clear cell type OEC compared to control. Only 6 CpG loci were commonly hypermethylated across all subtypes of OEC. Hypermethylated loci of serous 17 (81.0%) and endometrioid type 10 (71.4%) were identical to that of clear cell type. However, mucinous type showed 17 peculiar loci (43.6%) out of 39 hypermethylated loci. The unique DNA hypermethylation patterns identified in different OEC subtypes suggest that their cause may involve different epigenetic mechanisms and the Bead chip used in this study is a useful tool to analyze DNA hypermethylation.

Tracheobronchial aspergillosis following primary cutaneous aspergillosis in a lung-transplant recipient

Invasive aspergillosis, a major problem during the post-transplant period, typically presents with pneumonia or tracheobronchitis in lung transplant recipients. In contrast, primary cutaneous aspergillosis is very rarely observed in lung-transplant recipients. In this report, we describe a case of tracheobronchial aspergillosis following primary cutaneous aspergillosis in a lung-transplant recipient. Early diagnosis of tracheobronchial aspergillosis is important because occult tracheobronchial aspergillosis can be potentially lethal. Our report suggests that surveillance bronchoscopy may facilitate identification of occult tracheobronchial invasion in lung-transplant recipients with primary cutaneous aspergillosis.

Functional Expression of TRPV4 Cation Channels in Human Mast Cell Line (HMC-1)

Mast cells are activated by specific allergens and also by various nonspecific stimuli, which might induce physical urticaria. This study investigated the functional expression of temperature sensitive transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) subfamily in the human mast cell line (HMC-1) using whole-cell patch clamp techniques. The temperature of perfusate was raised from room temperature (RT, 23~25℃ to a moderately high temperature (MHT, 37~39℃ to activate TRPV3/4, a high temperature (HT, 44~46℃ to activate TRPV1, or a very high temperature (VHT, 53~55℃ to activate TRPV2. The membrane conductance of HMC-1 was increased by MHT and HT in about 50% (21 of 40) of the tested cells, and the I/V curves showed weak outward rectification. VHT-induced current was 10-fold larger than those induced by MHT and HT. The application of the TRPV4 activator 4α-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (4αPDD, 1µM) induced weakly outward rectifying currents similar to those induced by MHT. However, the TRPV3 agonist camphor or TRPV1 agonist capsaicin had no effect. RT-PCR analysis of HMC-1 demonstrated the expression of TRPV4 as well as potent expression of TRPV2. The [Ca(2+)](c) of HMC-1 cells was also increased by MHT or by 4αPDD. In summary, our present study indicates that HMC-1 cells express Ca(2+)-permeable TRPV4 channels in addition to the previously reported expression of TRPV2 with a higher threshold of activating temperature.

Functional comparison of esterified and free forms of conjugated linoleic acid in high-fat-diet-induced obese C57BL/6J mice

This study investigated the effects of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), in the form of free fatty acid (FFA-CLA) or triacylglycerol (TG-CLA), on serum and liver lipid composition and gene expression associated with lipogenesis and β-oxidation in high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obese C57BL/6J mice. Animals were fed a control diet, HFD, HFD supplemented with 2% FFA-CLA, or HFD supplemented with 2% TG-CLA for 8 weeks. Supplementation with both forms of CLA significantly reduced the weights of whole body and adipose tissue and was positively associated with significant liver enlargement. Both forms of CLA significantly decreased serum TG concentration, but had no effect on total cholesterol levels, which were increased in mice fed HFD. There was a prominent increase in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in mice that received either form of CLA. TG accumulation and lipogenic gene expression, including the expression of genes for fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC), and malic enzyme, were significantly lower in the livers of mice that received TG-CLA as compared to FFA-CLA. The gene expressions of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) in both liver and adipose tissue were suppressed in mice that were fed either form of CLA as compared to the mice fed HFD alone, whereas there were no increases in the levels of expression of β-oxidation-related genes. These findings demonstrated that free and esterified forms of CLA have differing effects on liver and adipose tissue lipogenesis.

Effects of cellulase from Aspergillus niger and solvent pretreatments on the extractability of organic green tea waste

As green tea is being consumed in larger amounts, more green tea waste is being produced. Following extraction, several bioactive compounds may exist in the waste including polyphenols and amino acids. It was found that an Aspergillus niger cellulase treatment of green tea waste increased the extractability of various nutritional and functional components after pretreatments with various extraction solvents such as cold water (CW), hot water (HW), sulfuric acid (SA), hydrochloric acid (HA), and methanol (Me). After the residue was treated with cellulase from Aspergillus niger, the amounts of polyphenols, total catechins, and reducing sugars in the HW extract were increased by 64.6, 941.2, and 350.9%, respectively. In particular, levels of epigallocatechin, epicatechin, and gallic acid were significantly enhanced compared to those in the nontreated control. However, protein extraction was not significantly affected, and cellulase treatment was not more efficient for caffeine extraction compared to phenolic extraction. Among the four extraction solvents, HW and SA showed relatively higher extractabilities as compared to the other groups (CW, HA, and Me). These results indicate that cellulase from A. niger can increase the extractability of green tea waste when combined with certain solvent pretreatments. Consequently, the residual functional compounds and essential nutrients from cellulase-treated green tea waste have the potential to be applied in the production of new functional foods.

Adipose-derived stromal cells inhibit allergic airway inflammation in mice

Allergic asthma is an inflammatory airway disease caused by T helper type 2 (Th2)-driven immune responses. Recent studies have demonstrated that adipose-derived stromal cells (ASC) have an immunosuppressive effect on T-cell activity. This study was performed to investigate whether ASC can inhibit Th2-dependent allergic airway inflammation in mice. BALB/c mice were sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) by intraperitoneal injection. To investigate the effect of ASC on the development of asthma phenotypes, 2 × 10⁶ ASC were injected intravenously before OVA challenge. We evaluated the airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), the proportion of eosinophils and cytokine production in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), airway inflammation, and the intracellular cytokine staining of T cells in the BALF and spleen. Airway hyperresponsiveness, airway eosinophilia, and mucus production were markedly reduced after ASC administration before OVA challenge. The increased interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 levels in the BALF after OVA challenge were significantly reduced by the administration of ASC. This inhibition was accompanied by decreased IL-4(+) CD4(+) T cells and increased interferon (IFN)-γ(+) CD4(+) T cells in the BALF and spleen. The results of this study suggest that ASC administration before an allergen challenge inhibits AHR, lung inflammation, and Th2 cytokine production induced by an allergen challenge through inhibition of Th2 cell activity.

The Immunohistochemical Patterns of the beta-Catenin Expression in Pilomatricoma

BACKGROUND

Pilomatricoma is a benign follicular tumor that is composed of basaloid cells, transitional cells and shadow cells. beta-Catenin is a 92-kDa protein, and it plays important roles in cell-cell adhesion at the cell membrane and signal transduction in the nucleus. beta-Catenin has recently been shown to play an important role in the formation of hair follicle-related tumors, including pilomatricoma. However, the pattern and the intracellular localization of the beta-Catenin expression are still controversial.

OBJECTIVE

We wanted to evaluate the pattern and the intracellular localization of the beta-Catenin expression in pilomatricoma by performing immunohistochemical staining.

METHODS

Twenty-seven paraffin-embedded tissue samples that were diagnosed as pilomatricoma were immunohistochemically stained with beta-Catenin antibody.

RESULTS

Basaloid cells were found 15 samples of the total 27 pilomatricomas. All (15/15) of the basaloid cells strongly expressed beta-Catenin, but the transitional cells and the shadow cells did not. In the basaloid cells, the nuclei and membranes showed prominent beta-Catenin immunoreactivities, but the cytoplasm showed weak beta-Catenin immunoreactivity.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed that the nucleus and membrane of all the basaloid cells in the pilomatricomas showed a strong beta-Catenin expression, but the transitional cells and shadow cells showed negative beta-Catenin immunoreactivity.

Paleoparasitological report on Ascaris aDNA from an ancient East Asian sample

In this study, Ascaris DNA was extracted and sequenced from a medieval archaeological sample in Korea. While Ascaris eggs were confirmed to be of human origin by archaeological evidence, it was not possible to pinpoint the exact species due to close genetic relationships among them. Despite this shortcoming, this is the first Ascaris ancient DNA (aDNA) report from a medieval Asian country and thus will expand the scope of Ascaris aDNA research.

Auto-fluorescence emitted from the cell residues preserved in human tissues of medieval Korean mummies

As a significant association has been established between residual ancient DNA (aDNA) and histological preservation, the morphological identification or confirmation of preserved cell residue in ancient tissues would greatly facilitate aDNA studies and enhance the definitiveness of their conclusions. However, morphological differentiation of cell residue from other tissue structures has always been difficult, even for experienced histologists, due to the severe degradation of cells over long burial durations. In the present study, using a fluorescence microscopy equipped with a specific type of filter set (excitation filter, 510-550 nm; dichroic mirror, 570 nm; emission filter, approximately 590 nm), we found that certain structures in well-preserved mummified tissues emitted auto-fluorescence. Those structures were actually cell residues (e.g. fragmented DNA), laser capture microdissection and Quantifiler kit analysis having shown that preservation of nuclear DNA correlates with auto-fluorescence emission in laser capture microdissection-captured areas. Detection of auto-fluorescence could be an effective means of identifying cell residues in ancient tissue, enabling selection of the well-preserved samples necessary in successful aDNA studies.

The influence of differential burial preservation on the recovery of parasite eggs in soil samples from Korean medieval tombs

The present study showed that ancient parasite eggs, not commonly present in soil samples from medieval Korean tombs, have been found in a very limited number of cases that satisfy certain archaeological requirements. In our paleo-parasitological examination of soil samples from medieval tombs encapsulated by a lime soil mixture barrier (LSMB), parasite eggs were more commonly detected in tombs that contained remains with clothes, hair, or brain tissue, though samples from not all such tombs contained eggs. Nonetheless, there was a close correlation between the preservation of certain types of cultural or human remains and the presence of ancient parasite eggs within medieval Korean LSMB tombs. Such remains, therefore, could be regarded as a strong predictor of well-preserved ancient parasite eggs in soil samples from LSMB tombs.

Novel epitheliomesenchymal biphasic stomach tumour (gastroblastoma) in a 9-year-old: morphological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical findings

Gastroblastoma is a rare gastric epitheliomesenchymal biphasic tumour composed of spindle and epithelial cells, reported by Miettinen et al in a series of three cases in 2009. All those cases arose in stomachs of young adults. Neither the epithelial nor the mesenchymal component displayed sufficient atypia to diagnose a carcinosarcoma or other malignancy. On immunohistochemistry, the epithelial component expressed cytokeratin, and the mesenchymal component was positive for vimentin and CD10. Miettinen et al designated these neoplasms as gastroblastomas based on their similarities with other childhood blastomas such as pleuropulmonary blastoma and nephroblastoma. This report describes a probable fourth case of this unique type of neoplasm. The present case arose in the gastric antrum of a 9-year-old boy. While similarities were evident with the other cases, there were some differences. The epithelial component was more predominant and showed more mature morphology. Immunohistochemically, the epithelial component showed immunolabelling for c-KIT and CD56. The mesenchymal component was only focally positive for CD10. Ultrastructually, desmosomes and microvilli were found supporting a truly epithelial lesion.