Soo Young Park

The alkaloid Berberine inhibits the growth of anoikis-resistant MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines by inducing cell cycle arrest.

Berberine is a pure phenanthren alkaloid isolated from the roots and bark of herbal plants such as Berberis, Hydrastis canadensis and Coptis chinensis. Berberine has been established to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells, but its effects on the drug resistance and anoikis-resistance of breast cancer cells have yet to be elucidated. Anoikis, or detachment-induced apoptosis, may prevent cancer progression and metastasis by blocking signals necessary for survival of localized cancer cells. Resistance to anoikis is regarded as a prerequisite for metastasis; however, little is known about the role of berberine in anoikis-resistance. We established anoikis-resistant cells from the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 by culturing them on a Poly-Hema substratum. We then investigated the effects of berberine on the growth of these cells. The anoikis-resistant cells had a reduced growth rate and were more invasive than their respective adherent cell lines. The effect of berberine on growth was compared to that of doxorubicine, which is a drug commonly used to treat breast cancer, in both the adherent and anoikis-resistant cell lines. Berberine promoted the growth inhibition of anoikis-resistant cells to a greater extent than doxorubicine treatment. Treatment with berberine-induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 in the anoikis-resistant MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells as compared to untreated control cells. In summary, these results revealed that berberine can efficiently inhibit growth by inducing cell cycle arrest in anoikis-resistant MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Further analysis of these phenotypes is essential for understanding the effect of berberine on anoikis-resistant breast cancer cells, which would be relevant for the therapeutic targeting of breast cancer metastasis.

Distinctive role of SIRT1 expression on tumor invasion and metastasis in breast cancer by molecular subtype

The aim of this study was to evaluate silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) expression levels by subtype and evaluate its predictive power of axillary lymph node metastasis (LNM) and its association with clinical outcome. A total of 427 patients diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma were chosen, immunohistochemical staining for SIRT1 expression was performed on tissue microarrays, and in vitro experiments with each intrinsic subtype of human breast cancer cell line were carried out. Increased expression of SIRT1 in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and HER2 breast cancer subtype significantly correlated with lower risks of LNM. On the contrary, in triple-negative breast cancer, increased SIRT1 expression was more frequently observed in LNM-positive subgroup than LNM-negative subgroup. Combination of statistically significant, independent parameters including SIRT1 revealed predictive performance for LNM with area under the curve of 0.602, 0.587, and 0.726 for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, HER2 breast cancer, and triple-negative breast cancer subtype, respectively. Inhibition of SIRT1 expression with small interfering RNA suppressed tumor invasion in MDA-MB-231, specifically. This is the first study to examine SIRT1 expression in breast cancer by subtype, and we have observed the potentially different role of SIRT1 gene having tumor-suppressive or tumor-promoting influence depending on the subtype; thus, different associations between SIRT1 expression and prognosis by subtype should be considered in its target therapy.

An intrathecally located broken catheter used for an intrathecal drug delivery system.

The intrathecal drug delivery system (ITDDS), an effective treatment tool for intractable spasticity and pain, is associated with various complications but breakage of the catheter is rare. We report the case of a 50-yr-old man with ITDDS, in whom an intrathecal catheter was severed, resulting in a 28.6-cm-long intrathecal fragment. The catheter completely retracted into the intrathecal space from the anchor site. The catheter was severed during spine flexion, and the total distal fragment was repositioned in the intrathecal space. Although the outcome of ITDDS was associated with the length or diameter of the broken catheter, no neurologic complications occurred in our patient. Thus, we inserted another catheter instead of removing the old one. Thereafter, the patient has been regularly followed up, and no neurologic complications have developed during the 28 months.

Pain from Intramuscular Vaccine Injection in Adults

BACKGROUND Vaccine use has been increasing worldwide, and adult populations are presented with more opportunities to experience pain from vaccine injection. The insertion of a needle through the skin is the most common source of iatrogenic pain, and needle phobia is a major concern in medical practice. However, it is unclear which factors play major roles in the perception of pain from vaccine injection in adults. AIM To evaluate the influences of patient characteristics on pain perception due to intramuscular vaccine injection in healthy adult volunteers. MATERIAL AND METHODS The injection of hepatitis B vaccine using a 24 mm, 24-G needle was performed as a uniform stimulus, and the intensity of injection pain was measured immediately after the injection using a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS). The influences of patient characteristics on pain intensity were investigated. RESULTS One hundred sixty volunteers (65 males, 95 females) were enrolled in this study. The average VAS score was 20.8 ± 17.1 (range 0 to 67) in males and 34.4 ± 19.7 (range 2 to 76) in females (P < 0.001). However, there were no correlations between VAS score and age, body mass index or maximal pain score from previous painful experiences. The VAS score was also not affected by the experience of previous vaccine injections, a history of childbirth in females, or religion. CONCLUSIONS Gender appears to be the only major factor that influences the pain of intramuscular vaccine injection. Therefore, pain-reducing methods will be needed when performing injection procedures, particularly in women.

Psoas Compartment Blockade in a Laterally Herniated Disc Compressing the Psoas Muscle - A Case Report -

A psoas compartment block has been used to provide anesthesia for orthopedic surgical procedures and analgesia for post-operative pain. Currently, this block is advocated for relieving pain in the lower extremity and pelvic area resulting from various origins. We report a case of a 69-year-old male patient who had gait abnormality with posterior pelvic and hip pain, which were both aggravated by hip extension. From the magnetic resonance image, the patient was found to have a laterally herniated intervertebral disc at the L2/3 level, which compressed the right psoas muscle. This was thought to be the origin of the pain, so a psoas compartment block was performed using 0.25% chirocaine with triamcinolone 5mg, and the pain in both the pelvis and hip were relieved.

Acute cholecystitis developed immediately after thoracic kyphoplasty -A case report-

Postoperative acute cholecystitis is a rare complication of orthopaedic surgery and is unrelated to the biliary tract. In particular, in the case of immediate postoperative state after surgery such as kyphoplasty at the thoracic vertebra, symptoms related to inflammation mimic those of abdominal origin, so the diagnosis and the treatment of acute cholecystitis can be delayed leading to a fatal outcome. It is important that physicians should be aware of the postoperative patients condition in order to make an early diagnosis and determine treatment.