In periodontal diseases, inflammatory mediators, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), may promote the degeneration of inflamed periodontal tissues. In previous studies, levels of these three cytokines were demonstrated to be elevated in inflammatory gingival tissues and gingival crevicular fluid. The aim of the present study was to quantify IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α levels in the human gingival tissues of patients with periodontitis and to assess the correlation of these three cytokines with each other. In this study, human gingival tissues from 19 patients with periodontitis (male, n=14; female, n=5) were collected. The tissues were homogenized, centrifuged and the protein in the supernatant was quantified. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used in the measurement of the IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α levels, and the mean levels were observed to be 8.41±0.25, 34.01±1.09 and 20.70±0.31 pg/ml, respectively. The mean levels of IL-8 were higher than those of the other two cytokines. In each sample, the level of TNF-α expression was consistently high, with little difference between the results, which contrasted with the fluctuations in IL-6 and IL-8 levels. The expression of the two ILs (IL-6 and IL-8) showed a positive correlation (r=0.932, P=0.01), whereas TNF-α levels were not correlated with IL-6 or IL-8 levels. These results suggest that IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α may be relevant in the pathophysiology of periodontitis, and the measurement of these cytokines may be beneficial in the identification of patients with periodontitis.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the preoperative characteristics of benign mature cystic teratoma (MCT) and struma ovarii and their risk factors associated malignancies, and determine the appropriate treatment options for these tumors.MethodsThis was a retrospective study on 248 patients who were pathologically diagnosed with ovarian MCT, struma ovarii, or malignant transformations of these tumors at Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital from March 2010 to January 2015. Routinely evaluated results of adnexal masses before surgery were compared.ResultsA total of six patients (2.4%) were confirmed to have malignant tumors. Of the struma ovarii patients, two out of five patients (40%) were confirmed to have malignancy. The mean age at the diagnosis of patients with malignant transformation of teratomas was 43.0 years (range, 27 to 67 years), which was higher than that of patients with benign teratomas (36.5 years). The mean diameter of the tumor before surgery in the malignant tumor group was 11.4 cm and larger than 6.5 cm of benign group (P=0.003). The mean CA-125 level in the malignant tumor group was higher than that in the benign tumor group (P=0.01).ConclusionRisk factors for malignant transformation of MCT include elevated CA-125 levels, older age, large tumor masses, and postmenopausal status.

Cyclophilin, a cytosolic receptor for the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A, plays a role in diverse pathophysiologies along with its receptor, CD147. Although the interaction between cyclophilin A and CD147 is well established in inflammatory disease, that of cyclophilin B (CypB) with CD147 has not been fully explored, especially in cancer cell biology, and the exact molecular mechanism underlying such an association is poorly understood. In this study, we first identified high expression levels of CypB in 54 % of hepatocellular carcinoma patient tissues but in only 12.5 % of normal liver tissues. Then, we demonstrated that CypB overexpression protects human hepatoma cells against oxidative stress through its binding to CD147; this protective effect depends on the peptidyl prolyl isomerase activity of CypB. siRNA-mediated knockdown of CypB expression rendered hepatoma cells more vulnerable to ROS-mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, we also determined that a direct interaction between secreted CypB and CD147 regulates the extracellular signal-regulated kinase intracellular signaling pathway and is indispensible for the protective functions of CypB. For the first time, we demonstrated that CypB has an essential function in protecting hepatoma cells against oxidative stress through binding to CD147 and regulating the ERK pathway.

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This study reviews the clinical outcome and prognosis of patients with malignant mixed müllerian tumors (MMMTs) of the ovary treated with optimal cytoreductive surgery, leaving no residual disease, and platinum-based chemotherapy. Ten patients diagnosed with MMMT of the ovary after complete surgical staging from February 1993 to February 2004 at Asan Medical Center in Korea were studied retrospectively. All ten patients were treated with optimal cytoreductive surgery, leaving no gross residual disease. Seven patients received ifosfamide/cisplatin chemotherapy, and the remaining three patients received other platinum-based combination chemotherapy. Demographic data, pathologic findings, treatments, and survival time were reviewed. Of the ten patients, two were scored at FIGO stage IIC, seven were at stage IIIC, and one was at stage IV. The median survival time of all ten patients was 46 months. The overall survival rate was 60.0% at 1 year, 40.0% at 2 years, and 20.0% at 5 years. Platinum-based combination chemotherapy after optimal cytoreductive surgery may be effective in the treatment of ovarian MMMT.

In postmenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding, biopsy by curettage may be not reliable for evaluation of endometrial pathology.

The antifungal activity of allicin and its synergistic effects with the antifungal agents flucytosine and amphotericin B (AmB) were investigated in Candida albicans (C. albicans). C. albicans was treated with different conditions of compounds alone and in combination (allicin, AmB, flucytosine, allicin + AmB, allicin + flucytosine, allicin + AmB + flucytosine). After a 24-hour treatment, cells were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to measure morphological and biophysical properties associated with cell death. The clearing assay was conducted to confirm the effects of allicin. The viability of C. albicans treated by allicin alone or with one antifungal drug (AmB, flucytosine) in addition was more than 40% after a 24-hr treatment, but the viability of groups treated with combinations of more than two drugs was less than 32%. When the cells were treated with allicin alone or one type of drug, the morphology of the cells did not change noticeably, but when cells were treated with combinations of drugs, there were noticeable morphological changes. In particular, cells treated with allicin + AmB had significant membrane damage (burst or collapsed membranes). Classification of cells according to their cell death phase (CDP) allowed us to determine the relationship between cell viability and treatment conditions in detail. The adhesive force was decreased by the treatment in all groups compare to the control. Cells treated with AmB + allicin had a greater adhesive force than cells treated with AmB alone because of the secretion of molecules due to collapsed membranes. All cells treated with allicin or drugs were softer than the control cells. These results suggest that allicin can reduce MIC of AmB while keeping the same efficacy.