SG Group Research Articles

National Survey of Lung Cancer in Korea, 2005

Purpose: Lung Cancer has been the leading cause of cancer deaths in South Korea since the year 2000, and its incidence continues to rise. Here we report the result of national survey of lung cancer conducted by Korean association for the study of lung cancer (KASLC). Materials and Methods: A total of 8,788 lung cancer patients diagnosed in 2005 were registered using a web based case report form issued to hospitals equipped with more than 400 beds. Results: The age distribution ranged from 11 to 105 years (64.7±10.7 years), 75.8% (6,664) of the patients were male and 28.9% of patients were never smokers. Subjective symptoms at the time of diagnosis included coughing (3,350 patients), dyspnea (2,105), chest pain (1,067), hemoptysis (805), weight loss (789), general weakness (498) and hoarseness (190), while 12% (1,015) of patients had no subjective symptoms. Of the carcinomas grouped into non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), adenocarcinoma including bronchoalveolar cell carcinoma (1.3%) was the most frequent (36.1%) histopathologic type, followed by squamous cell lung carcinoma (32.1%), large cell carcinoma (1.5%), unclassified non-small cell carcinoma (13.2%) and others (3.7%). In addition, 13.5% of all of the patients were afflicted with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). The stage at diagnosis was IA (7.3%), IB (10.2%), IIA (1.3%), IIB (6.1%), IIIA (12.8%), IIIB (21.6%), and IV (40.6%) in the NSCLC group. In SCLC group, 44.6% of the patients were in the limited stage, while 55.4% of the patients were in the extensive stage. The initial treatments included surgery (22.1%), radiation therapy (7.8%), chemo-radiation therapy (5.4%) and chemotherapy (38%), however, 26.6% of the patients were transferred or recorded to have supportive care only. Therefore we compared the outcomes of the Treatment Group (TG, 73.4%) and the Supportive Group (SG, 26.6%). The median survival time (MST) in months (m) was 28 (95% confidence interval 26.5~29.5 m). Multivariate analysis indicated that the independent prognostic factors for NSCLC were age, gender, ECOG PS score, stage, histopathologic type, and treatment or supportive care. In the SCLC group, age, PS score, stage, treatment or supportive care were significant prognostic factors. The TG group showed significantly superior survival when compared to the SG group, even in patients with stage IV disease and in patients that were ＞75 years old. Conclusion: Adenocarcinoma was found to be the most frequent histopathologic type, and active treatments were found to improve the survival of patients with lung cancer, even when they were in advanced stages or elderly. (J Lung Cancer 2007;6(2):67�� 73)

Differences in the rehabilitation period following two methods of anterior cruciate ligament replacement: Semitendinosus / gracilis tendon vs. Ligamentum patellae

In this study we have analyzed outcome during the early rehabilitation period phase following two different methods of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction: ligamentum patellae (LP) and semitendonosus/gracilis tendon (SG) based reconstruction. This study included 40 patients treated by each method, examined 6 weeks and 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. Patients in the SG group showed significantly better Lysholm scores at 6 and 12 months, Tegner Activity Scale scores at 3 months, and pain profile assessments at 6 weeks and 3 months than those in the LP group. Significant differences were observed in LP group in range-of-motion at 6 weeks and 3 and 6 months post-surgery. Stability tests revealed no significant differences between patients in the two groups. SG-based reconstruction of the ACL thus demonstrated advantages over LP-based reconstruction regarding pain and function, while LP-based reconstruction was associated with an earlier return of motion.

Reproductive response in supplemented heifers in the humid tropics of Costa Rica

To evaluate the effect of two supplementary diets to determine the consequence on productive and reproductive performance in heifers ( Bos indicus × Bos taurus) averaging between 24 and 36 months of age and grazing tropical pastures, two trials were conducted. Thirty animals (initial BW 325.1 ± 33.6 kg) were divided in two groups in the initial study: supplemented (SG) and control (CG); SG received a concentrate (5.5% CP and 2.85 Mcal/kg of DE dry matter basis) at 1% of body weight (BW). In the second study, 45 heifers (initial BW 332.6 ± 29.3 kg) were assigned in two treatments, with the same amount of supplement (1% BW) but with a greater nutrient content (13% CP and 3.15 Mcal/kg of DE). The proportion of animals with a corpus luteum at the end of each study was greater in the supplemented groups ( P < 0.05). Ovarian follicular dynamics was similar between groups in the first study, but in the second study there were more heifers in the SG group with follicles larger than 9 mm in diameter ( P < 0.05). Pregnancy rate was similar for SG and CG ( P > 0.05). The response to a regimen of estrous synchronization in both trials was numerically superior in the SG group. No differences were observed in the length of estrus. Daily gain and body condition score were similar for supplemented and control groups (0.27 compared with −0.06 in the first study and 0.90 kg compared with 0.60 in the second study, respectively). Dietary supplementation improved the number of animals initiating estrous cycles and the expression of estrus when compared with unsupplemented control heifers. The dietary regimens imposed in these studies appear to be an adequate for the management of growing heifers destined to a reproductive program.

Electromyographic Analyses of Global Synkinesis in the Paretic Upper Limb After Stroke

Global synkinesis (GS), or motor irradiation, is an involuntary movement associated with the coactivation of numerous muscles in one limb when the opposite limb is active. The electromyographic (EMG) patterns of people with stroke and people who were healthy were analyzed to characterize GS development in relation to joint involvement and to attempt to relate these findings to clinical observations. Twenty patients with stroke, divided into 2 groups with either greater levels of irradiation (SG, n = 10) or lesser levels of irradiation (SL, n = 10), and 20 subjects in a control group were studied. A dynamometer was used to provide resistance for voluntary isometric muscle contractions of the flexor muscle groups of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist. The summated and standardized net EMG amplitudes of 8 principal muscles of the unexercised (paretic) upper extremity were used to characterize intensity and spatial representation of GS. Clinical measurements included the Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale (FMA), Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living (BI), and the stage on the Brunnström Stages of Motor Recovery Scale (BR). In the SG and control groups, a more substantial GS intensity was associated with muscle contractions of the flexor muscles of the opposite proximal joint than was the case for contractions of the flexor muscles of the distal joint, whereas such a gradient change was absent in the SL group. The corresponding spatial patterns of GS exhibited a predominant cross-excitation over the unexercised pectoralis major and extensor carpi radialis muscles in the control group, contrary to the enhanced activation of the brachioradialis and biceps brachii muscles noted in patients with stroke. The SG group had a better FMA score and a more satisfactory BR stage than did the SL group, and the 2 neurological scores were related to GS intensity for patients with stroke, depending on joint involvement. Intensity of GS provided an affiliation with motor deficits and a promising window for poststroke recovery mechanisms.

Management of pituitary incidentalomas: According to a survey of pituitary incidentalomas in Japan

The development of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has resulted in the discovery of unsuspected endocrinologically silent pituitary masses (pituitary incidentalomas). The aim of this study was to clarify the natural history of pituitary incidentalomas in order to establish an appropriate approach to them. Five hundred fifty patients with pituitary incidentalomas were analyzed in this study; 261 patients (47.4%) underwent surgery (surgical group; SG), whereas 289 patients (52.6%) were followed up conservatively (nonsurgical group; NSG) for a mean period of 27.3 months (range, 6-173 months). Clinical and biochemical assessment, CT or MRI of the pituitary, and visual field testing were assessed at baseline and at 6 months and yearly thereafter. A total of 261 tumors in the SG group consisted of 211 (80.8%) nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas and 42 (16.1%) Rathke's cysts. During a follow-up period, of 289 tumors in the NSG group, 209 (72.3%) tumors stayed the same size as before, 35 tumors (12.1 %) increased in size, and 41 tumors (14.2%) decreased in size. The estimated diagnoses of the tumors that increased consist of 28 nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas, 5 Rathke's cyst, and 2 others. The decreased tumors consist of 11 nonfunctioning adenomas, 21 Rathke's cysts, and 3 others. Pituitary incidentalomas usually follow a benign course. We recommend transsphenoidal adenomectomy for a solid mass attached to the optic chiasma estimated to be a pituitary adenoma by MRI. Other patients should be followed up by MRI and biochemical assessment. Especially asymptomatic cystic masses (including Rathke's cleft cysts) could be followed up without surgical intervention because they tend to stay the same size or sometimes be cured spontaneously.

Effects of Stamm Gastrostomy on Gastric Emptying Rate in Rats

Aim: Although frequency of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) increases after gastrostomy, the role of gastric emptying in GER has not been evaluated. In this study, we examined the effects of Stamm gastrostomy on gastric emptying rate in rats and whether Stamm gastrostomy induces GER or not. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. Stamm gastrostomy was done in the first group (SG). Sham operation was carried out in group 2 and the 3rd group served as control. Gastric emptying was assessed using both liquid and solid meals in each group at postoperative 14th day. For solid meal emptying, after fasting of 16 h, the rats were fed for 3 h and gastric emptying rate was measured at the fifth hour. Methylcellulose was used for emptying of liquids and it was given after the animals were fasted for 16 h and gastric emptying rate was measured 30 min later. Histological evaluation for GER was performed in all groups. Results: GER was observed pathophysiologically in 5 of the 7 rats in SG group. Gastric emptying rates of liquid and solid meals were found to be similar in control, SG or sham groups. Conclusion: Surgical gastrostomy does not affect the gastric emptying of solid and liquid meals in rats. Other mechanisms should be considered in the development of GER observed following gastrostomy.

Stretch and Contraction Specific Changes in Passive Torque in Human M. Rectus Femoris

In 43 subjects stretch procedures of the rectus femoris muscle (rf) were produced before and after 15-min treatments: SG (n = 11), 3 × 5 stretches (st1–st15) of rf with 3-min rest after 5 reps; CG (n = 11), resistance training of rf (5 × 12); RG (n = 10), 15-min rest without any activity; AG (n = 11), 15-min submaximal activity. During the pretest, subjects underwent 3 and, in retest, 2 stretch procedures. Throughout every stretch procedure resting tension (TS) at 9° below the maximal range of motion of pretest-PS was quantified and calculated as percent of TS. In pretest, TS of the 4 treatment groups declined to 89.3%. During treatment of SG, TS decreased until st2 (the fifth stretch altogether; 77.8%; p < .01). In the retest, TS of SG (82.3%) was significantly lower than in the other 3 treatment groups (96.8%, p < .01). No significant differences exist between the increases of these 3 treatment groups. Low TS during the retest of the SG group has to be attributed to the stretching load of the titin filaments in the course of the treatment. In contrast to this, titin filaments don't seem to be under any strain during the treatment in the other groups and thus recover to the full extent after the few stretch procedures between pre- and retest.

Kupffer cells modulate splenic interleukin-10 production in endotoxin-induced liver injury after partial hepatectomy

Background/Aims: This study was conducted to investigate the implication of Kupffer cells and the spleen in interleukin (IL)-10 production in endotoxin-induced liver injury after hepatectomy.Methods: Rats were divided into five groups: the S group, sham-operation; the SG group, sham-operation followed by intravenous gadolinium chloride (GdCl3: 7 mg/kg) administration to inhibit Kupffer cell function; the H group, two-thirds hepatectomy; the HG group, hepatectomy and subsequent GdCl3 administration; the HGS group, hepatectomy and splenectomy with GdCl3 administration. Lipopolysaccharide (1.5 mg/kg) was intravenously administered for each group 48 h after surgery.Results: GdCl3 treatment significantly suppressed the elevation of plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels by lipopolysaccharide administration with completely inhibited induction of hepatic TNF-α and IL-10 mRNAs. In the HG group, marked increase in plasma IL-10 levels associated with enhanced splenic IL-10 mRNA was observed 1 h after lipopolysaccharide administration when compared to those in the H and HGS groups. Plasma TNF-α/IL-10 ratio 1 h after lipopolysaccharide administration was higher in the order of H, HGS and HG groups. Hepatic parenchymal damage and the 24-h mortality were lowest in group HG, followed by groups HGS and H.Conclusions: Kupffer cells after hepatectomy may aggravate endotoxin-induced liver injury via down-regulation of IL-10 production in the spleen.

Feed restriction in young bulls alters the onset of puberty in relationship with plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding proteins☆

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of feed restriction and re-alimentation on the onset of puberty and IGF status in peripubertal male calves and to compare the radioimmunoassay (RIA) and western ligand blotting (WLB) methods for bovine IGFBP-2. Twelve prepubertal 290 d-old Belgian Blue bulls (mean weight: ± 290 kg) were randomly assigned in three groups: a control group (NG; n = 4) receiving a classic fattening diet to induce “normal” growth (1.48 kg/d), a feed restricted group (RG; n = 4) to obtain reduced growth (0.50 kg/d) and, a severely restricted group (SG; n = 4) to nearly stop growth (0.08 kg/d). The feed restriction period was maintained over a period of 114 d. After the period of differential feeding, all animals received the control feed regime over a period of 100 d. Blood samples were collected at fortnightly intervals. Circulating IGF-I was measured by RIA whereas plasma IGFBPs was evaluated by WLB; IGFBP-2 was additionally quantified by RIA procedure. At the beginning of the trial, IGF-I levels were low (<100 ng/ml) and similar in the three groups in accordance with prepubertal status. In the NG group, a progressive rise in IGF-I was observed from Day 42 to Day 142 whereas in the RG and SG groups, IGF-I levels did not change until the experimental restriction period ended. The delay of the rise in plasma IGF-I was longer for the SG group, IGF-I remained low until 2 wk after the end of the period of restricted feeding. Surprisingly, although differences were detected for IGF-I levels between the three groups, the IGFBP-2 and -3 data, evaluated by WLB could only discriminate between NG and SG group and not between NG and RG. However, by using a RIA method, an IGFBP-2 decrease was observed in the NG group coincident with increasing IGF-I levels. For both RG and SG groups, IGFBP-2 levels remained high throughout the feed restriction period whereas plasma IGFBP-2 levels declined upon feeding in both groups. During this feed restriction period, IGFBP-2 was significantly lower in NG than in RG or SG groups. Moreover, SG group animals had higher levels in plasma IGFBP-2 than RG animals. In conclusion, puberty is characterized by developmental changes in plasma IGF-I and IGFBPs that were altered by feed restriction. Moreover, RIA evaluation of plasma IGFBP-2 is able to better reflect group differences than WLB.

EFFECTS OF PROLONGED INFUSION OF THE NATRIURETIC PEPTIDES ESCHERICHIA COLI ENTEROTOXIN AND ATRIAL NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE ON THE OUTCOME OF ACUTE ISCHEMIC RENAL FAILURE IN THE RAT

Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP), has protective effect on the outcome of acute renal failure in animals when infused over short periods of time. Escherichia Coli heat-stable enterotoxin (STa) acts on a particulate guanylate cyclase receptors leading to an increase in cytosolic cGMP similar to ANP. STa has longer duration of action and induces significant natriuresis in the healthy kidney, however. Therefore the effects of prolonged infusion of STa and ANP on the outcome of ischemic Acute Renal Failure (ARF) was assessed in the rat. Three groups of rats were used in the experiment, control group (n = 6), had ischemic ARF induced by 30 minutes of left renal pedicle clamping and right nephrectomy. SG group (n = 7) had similar surgery to the control group followed by 1 μg intraperitoneal (i.p) loading dose of STa and placement of mini-osmotic pumps delivering 0.1 μg/hour of STa for 72 hours. AG group (n = 8) also had similar surgery to the control group followed by i.p injection of 10 μg of ANP and placement of mini-osmotic pumps delivering 1 μg/hour of ANP for 72 hours. 72 hours post the induction of ARF, there were no statistical differences among the three groups' creatinine levels, hematocrit and body weights. ANP level was significantly higher in the AG group compared to controls, 5387.6 ± 878.8 and 36.2 ± 10.0 pg/mL respectively, p < 0.001. Urinary sodium (UNa) on the other hand reached highest levels in the SG group compared to controls 16.4 ± 5.0 and 5.0 ± 0.0 meq/L respectively, p = 0.028. In conclusion Sta induces significant natriuresis in ischemic ARF without changing the course of renal impairment. Likewise prolonged infusion of ANP does not alter the course of ischemic ARF.

The Influence of Frequent and Excessive Intake of Glucose on Microvascular Aging in Healthy Mice

The purpose of this study was to verify the following working hypothesis. Even in healthy individuals with normoglycemic adaptability, microvascular aging caused by the accumulation of advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) in vascular walls would occur, when the blood glucose level is maintained intermittently high due to frequent and excessive sugar intake for a prolonged period. Male BALB/c mice were divided into four groups: the S group raised with glucose-enriched feed and the C group with ordinary feed, as well as the SG group with the glucose-enriched feed and special drinking water supplemented with 0.25% aminoguanidine (AG), and the CG group with ordinary feed and this special drinking water. After 6 months, a mouse dorsal skinfold chamber was mounted on the skin of the back for the intravital-microscopic observations of microvasculature. Blood glucose levels were within normal ranges in all four animal groups, indicating their saccharometabolism to be normal. An autofluorescent AGE-positive ratio in the S group was 71.4%, and that in the C group was 33.3%. Mean caliber of arterial microvessels was smallest in the S group. The SG and CG group showed the caliber larger than the groups without AG. Vascular lesion indices were significantly larger in the S group than those of the groups with AG. The indices were particularly small in the SG group. A decrease of amplitudes in thicker vessels and an increase of vasomotor frequencies in thinner ones were demonstrated in the S group. The features of vasomotion differed in the groups with and without AG. Microvascular aging was clearly noticed in the S group. It has been concluded that vasomotor inhibition was generated in addition to hypertrophy and fragility in arterial microvessels of the group. It is further concluded that AG protects blood vessels from hypertrophy and fragility, but it downregulates vasomotion.

RANGE OF LYMPH NODE DISSECTION AND POSTOPERATIVE COURSE IN PYLORUS PRESERVING GASTRECTOMY FOR EARLY GASTRIC CANCER LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE THIRD OF THE STOMACH

In this study the lymph node metastases was explored 223 patients with early gastric cancer in the middle third of the stomach who underwent conventional subtotal gastrectomy with radical lymph node dissection. Of these patients, those whose cancer invasion was limited to the mucosa had lymph node metastases limited to the n, group, while others whose cancer invaded the submucosa had lymph node metastases in the n2 group. Consequently, it was concluded that when pylorus presrving gastrectomy (PPG) is performed on patients with early gastric cancer in the middle third of the stomach, lymph node dissection of compartment I should be carried out for patients with mucosal cancer, and node dissection of compartments I and II should be carried out for patients with submucosal cancer. Using these guide lines, PPG was performed on 20 patients with early gastric cancer, and no problems in the safety and radicality were arizen from PPG. Sixteen patients undergoing PPG (PPG group) and 19 patients undergoing subtotal gastrectomy with Dl dissection (SG group) were compared for recovery and quality of life of the patients. The hospital stay after the surgery was longer by one week in the PPG group than in the SG group, because regain of dietary intake took longer after PPG than the other. However, six months after the surgery, more favorable tendency in food intake volume, performance status, and recovery of lost weight was noted in the PPG group. The occurrence of early dumping in the PPG group (13%) was significantly lower than in the SG group (37%).