Jong Hui Suh

Up-regulation of miR-26a promotes apoptosis of hypoxic rat neonatal cardiomyocytes by repressing GSK-3β protein expression

Myocardial ischemia is the major cause of morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular diseases. This disease is a severe stress condition that causes extensive biochemical changes which trigger cardiac cell death. Stress conditions such as deprivation of glucose and oxygen activate the endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm of cells, including cardiomyocytes, to generate and propagate apoptotic signals in response to these conditions. microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that mediate posttranscriptional gene silencing. The miRNAs play important roles in regulating cardiac physiological and pathological events such as hypertrophy, apoptosis, and heart failure. However, the roles of miRNAs in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated injury on cardiomyocytes are uncertain. In this study, we identified at the apoptotic concentration of H(2)O(2), miR-26a expression was increased. To determine the potential roles of miR-26a in H(2)O(2)-mediated cardiac apoptosis, miR-26a expression was regulated by a miR-26a or an anti-miR-26a. Overexpression of miR-26a increased apoptosis as determined by upregulation of Annexin V/PI positive cell population, caspase-3 activity and expression of pro-apoptotic signal molecules, whereas inhibition of miR-26a reduced apoptosis. We identified GSK3B as a direct downstream target of miR-26a. Furthermore, miR-26a attenuated viability and increased caspase-3 activity in normal cardiomyocytes. This study demonstrates that miR-26a promotes ROS-induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. Thus, miR-26a affects ROS-mediated gene regulation and cellular injury response.

Multiple Calcifying Fibrous Pseudotumor of the Pleura

Calcifying fibrous pseudotumor (CFP) of the pleura is a rare benign lesion. Eleven cases of CFP of the pleura have been reported, and multiple nodules were present in seven cases. We report one additional case of multiple CFP occurring in the right pleura. The patient was 35-year-old asymptomatic male who presented at our hospital with incidentally found multiple pleural nodules. Diagnosis was made by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and complete resection of all disseminated lesions was possible with followed thoracotomy. Although multiple lesions may prevent the complete resection and CFP of the pleura is considered as benign lesion, complete surgical resection of all lesions seems to be the best therapy for CFP of the pleura to reduce additional dissemination and local recurrence.

Calcified amorphous tumor in left atrium presenting with cerebral infarction.

Calcified amorphous tumor (CAT) of the heart is an extremely rare cardiac mass. We describe a case of cardiac CAT in a 70-year-old Korean female who presented with acute onset dysarthria and right side weakness. Echocardiography and chest computed tomography revealed a left atrial mass that originated from the interatrial septum. The patient underwent surgical resection and pathologic examination demonstrated CAT. Postoperative course was uneventful and she was followed without recurrence.

Identification of Genomic Aberrations by Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization in Patients with Aortic Dissections

Background The aim of the present study was to identify chromosomal loci that contribute to the pathogenesis of aortic dissection (AD) in a Korean population using array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and to confirm the results using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Materials and Methods Eighteen patients with ADs were enrolled in this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from individual blood samples, and array CGH analyses were performed. Four corresponding genes with obvious genomic changes were analyzed using real-time PCR in order to assess the level of genomic imbalance identified by array CGH. Results Genomic gains were most frequently detected at 8q24.3 (56%), followed by regions 7q35, 11q12.2, and 15q25.2 (50%). Genomic losses were most frequently observed at 4q35.2 (56%). Real-time PCR confirmed the results of the array CGH studies of the COL6A2, DGCR14, PCSK6, and SDHA genes. Conclusion This is the first study to identify candidate regions by array CGH in patients with ADs. The identification of genes that may predispose an individual to AD may lead to a better understanding of the mechanism of AD formation. Further multicenter studies comparing cohorts of patients of different ethnicities are warranted.

Concomitant Aortoesophageal and Aortobronchial Fistula After Endovascular Aortic Repair

d a u g d 75-year-old man was admitted with excruciating chest pain and hemodynamic collapse 2 months earlier. mergency computed tomographic scan showed a rupured thoracic aorta with mediastinal hematoma (Fig 1A). n endovascular stent-graft was deployed along the decending thoracic aorta through emergency angiogram (Fig B). Completion angiogram showed successful exclusion of he ruptured descending thoracic aorta (Fig 1C). The patient was readmitted with recurrent pneumonia nd intermittent hemoptysis 4 months later. A computed omographic scan on readmission showed crescenthaped air bubbles around the endovascular stent-grafted

Robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with simple laparoscopy for diaphragm eventration.

Robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has been applied for general thoracic operations. Its advantages include not only those of minimally invasive surgery but also those of magnified three-dimensional vision and angulation of the robotic arm. However, there are no direct tactile sensation and force feedback, which can cause unwanted organ damage. We therefore used laparoscopy simultaneously to avoid a blind intraperitoneal area during robotic surgery for diaphragmatic eventration via transthoracic approach and describe the technique herein.

Adventitial fibroblast abormality in thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections.

Background Development of thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections (TAAD) is attributed to unbearable wall tension superimposed on defective aortic wall integrity and impaired aortic repair mechanisms. Central to this repair mechanisms are well-balanced and adequately functional cellular components of the aortic wall, including endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells (SMCs), inflammatory cells, and adventitial fibroblasts. Adventitial fibroblasts naturally produce aortic extracellular matrix (ECM), and, when aortic wall is injured, they can be transformed into SMCs, which in turn are involved in aortic remodeling. We postulated the hypothesis that adventitial fibroblasts in patients with TAAD may have defects in ECM production and SMC transformation. Materials and Methods Adventitial fibroblasts were procured from the adventitial layer of fresh aortic tissues of patients with TAAD (Group I) and of multi-organ donors (Group II), and 4-passage cell culture was performed prior to the experiment. To assess ECM production, cells were treated with TNF-α (50 pM) and the expression of MMP-2 / MMP-3 was analyzed using western blot technique. To assess SMC transformation capacity, cells were treated with TGF-β1 and expression of SM α-actin, SM-MHC, Ki-67 and SM calponin was evaluated using western blot technique. Fibroblasts were then treated with TGF-β1 (10 pM) for up to 10 days with TGF-β1 supplementation every 2 days, and the proportion of transformed SMC in the cell line was measured using immunofluorescence assay for fibroblast surface antigen every 2 days. Results MMP-3 expression was significantly lower in group I than in group II. TGF-β1-stimulated adventitial fibroblasts in group I expressed less SM α-actin, SM-MHC, and Ki-67 than in group II. SM-calponin expression was not different between the two groups. Presence of fibroblast was observed on immunofluorescence assay after more than 6 days of TGF-β1 treatment in group I, while most fibroblasts were transformed to SMC within 4 days in group II. Conclusion ECM production and SMC transformation are compromised in adventitial fibroblasts from patients with TAAD. This result suggests that functional restoration of adventitial fibroblasts could well be a novel approach for the prevention and treatment of TAAD.

Congenital Tracheobiliary Fistula in an Adolescent Patient

Congenital tracheobiliary fistula is a rare malformation that allows communication between the respiratory system and hepatobiliary tract. We describe a male adolescent patient who was admitted with a destroyed lung caused by repetitive bile pneumonitis with a congenital tracheobiliary fistula. Left pneumonectomy was performed, and the fistula tract was successfully divided.

Anemia resolved by thoracoscopic resection of a mediastinal mass: a case report of unicentric Castleman’s disease

Castlemans disease (CD) is an uncommon benign lymphoproliferative disorder that usually presents as a single or multiple mediastinal mass. In unicentric CD, constitutional symptoms are rare, but are curable with surgical resection. However, serious intraoperative bleeding often requires conversion to thoracotomy. We present a case of unicentric CD in a 25-year-old woman with anemia, who was successfully treated by thoracoscopic resection. We describe the clinical course from the initial presentation to diagnosis and surgical cure.

Nodular fasciitis on chest wall in a teenager: a case report and review of the literature.

We report the case of a 16-year-old boy with a rapid growing mass on his left anterior chest wall. The mass was completely resected, and pathological examination confirmed nodular fasciitis. Benign chest tumors rarely occur in childhood. Nodular fasciitis is a benign proliferation of myofibroblast that is often mimicked by a sarcoma of the soft tissue. Physicians should consider the possibility of nodular fasciitis in chest wall tumors in the pediatric population.