[en] 20-O-(β-D-Glucopyranosyl)-20(S)-protopanaxadiol (IH901), an intestinal bacterial metabolite of ginseng saponin formed from ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, and Rc, is suggested to be a potential chemopreventive agent. Here, we show that IH901 induces apoptosis in human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells. IH901 led to an early activation of procaspase-3 (12 h posttreatment), and the activation of caspase-8 became evident only later (18 h posttreatment). Caspase activation was a necessary requirement for apoptosis because caspase inhibitors significantly inhibited cell death by IH901. Treatment of HepG2 cells with IH901 also induced the cleavage of cytosolic factors such as Bid and Bax and translocation of truncated Bid (tBid) to mitochondria. A time-dependent release of cytochrome c from mitochondria was observed, which was accompanied by activation of caspase-9. A broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone (zVAD-fmk), and a specific inhibitor for caspase-8, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Ile-Glu-Thr-Asp-fluoromethylketone (zIETD-fmk), abrogated Bid processing and translocation, and caspase-3 activation. Cytochrome c release was inhibited by zVAD-fmk, however, the inhibition by zIETD-fmk was not complete. The activation of caspase-8 was inhibited not only by zIETD-fmk but also by zVAD-fmk. The results, together with the kinetic change of caspase activation, indicate that activation of caspase-8 occurred downstream of caspase-3 and -9. Our data suggest that the activation of caspase-8 after early caspase-3 activation might act as an amplification loop necessary for successful apoptosis. Primary hepatocytes isolated from normal Sprague-Dawley rats were not affected by IH901 (0-60 μM). The very low toxicity in normal hepatocytes and high activity in hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells suggest that IH901 is a promising experimental cancer chemopreventive agent

[en] Analysis of actuating forces and joint reaction forces are essential to determine the capacity of actuators, to control the mechanical system and to design its components. This paper presents an algorithm that calculates actuating forces(or torques), depending on the various types of driving constraints, in order to produce a given system motion in the joint coordinate space. The joint coordinates are used as the generalized coordinates of a kinematic system. System equations of motion and constraint acceleration equations are transformed from the Cartesian coordinate space to the joint coordinate space using the velocity transformation method. A numerical example is carried out to verify the algorithm proposed.

[en] To evaluate the ultrasound (US) findings that can help differentiate lymphoid hyperplasia in the appendix from acute appendicitis. A total of 1230 patients (below 20 years old) suspected of having appendicitis received an appendectomy between November, 1999, and March, 2008, with US findings in 27 patients with pathologically proven lymphoid hyperplasia of the appendix. Of 167 patients that received an appendectomy from January, 2007, to December, 2007, 52 patients with acute appendicitis were retrospectively reviewed as a control group. Retrospective review of US images was performed by two radiologists who were blinded to the pathologic results. The review was based on 12 ultrasonographic criteria derived from reports on the diagnostic findings of the appendicitis. Compared with acute appendicitis, lymphoid hyperplasia in appendix had a smaller diameter (7.14±1.22 mm vs 9.37±1.80 mm, p < 0.001) and less wall thickening(1.38±0.36 mm vs 1.74 ± 0.56 mm, p =0.001). Periappendicular inflammation (p < 0.001), intraluminal air (p = 0.006), round shape in transverse scan (p = 0.002),increased blood flow on color Doppler US (p = 0.03) were also different. US is a useful modality to differentiate lymphoid hyperplasia in the appendix from acute appendicitis

[en] Aberrant right subclavian artery is the most common anomaly of the aortic arch. The frequency of such irregularity is about 0.5-1% of the population with this condition. Common carotid trunk is another anomaly of the aortic arch. The frequency of coexistence of the two conditions, aberrant right subclavian artery with common carotid trunk, is extremely low. We report such a case of coexistence.

[en] Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is a relatively uncommon vascular tumor affecting adolescent males and it characteristically originates in the posterior lateral wall of the nasopharynx. Primary extra-nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is very rare. Here, I present a case of angiofibroma of the parapharyngeal space in a 53-year-old woman with CT and sonographic findings

[en] We report here on a case of primary mucinous adenocarcinoma arising from a seminal vesicle cyst that was associated with an ectopic ureter opening and ipsilateral renal agenesis, which is a very rare condition indeed. The lesion was depicted on transrectal ultrasonography, contrast enhanced CT and MRI as a papillary solid mass originating from the wall of the left seminal vesicle cyst

[en] Chronic sclerosing sialadenitis or a Ku'ttner tumor is a benign inflammatory condition characterized by firm swelling of the salivary gland. This disease may clinically mimic Sjo'gren's syndrome or a salivary gland origin neoplasm. Various sonographic findings in patients with a Ku'ttner tumor were described in previous studies. Here, we describe a rare case of a 60-year-old man presenting with a non-tender right-sided parotid mass and swelling of both submandibular glands. A pathologic examination of the lesions in the right parotid gland and both submandibular glands indicated the presence of K'uttner tumors of various sonographic appearances

[en] The purpose of this study was to investigate follow-up MR findings of spinal foraminal nerve sheath tumors after stereotactic irradiation. Thirty-five foraminal nerve sheath tumors in 28 patients who underwent stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) (n=28) or stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) (n=7) were included. The MR images were reviewed to identify serial changes in tumor volume and intratumoral necrosis. Growth and shrinkage were defined as volume changes of ±19.7% or more; stability was within ±19.7%. Transient swelling was defined as shrinkage preceded by significant growth. A tumor with shrinkage or stability was regarded as tumor control. Of 35 tumors, 16 (46%) were stable, 14 (40%) shrunk, and 5 (14%) grew. Transient swelling was seen for 13 (37%) lesions. Newly developed intratumoral necrosis was observed for 19 (54%) of 35 tumors and was significantly associated with transient swelling (p=0.039) and with tumor control (p=0.017). SRS was not significantly associated with transient swelling. In follow-up MR images of spinal foraminal nerve sheath tumors after stereotactic irradiation, newly developed intratumoral necrosis and transient swelling were often seen. Intratumoral necrosis was associated with transient swelling and tumor control. (author)

[en] Pneumocephalus without a facial bone fracture or sinus disease is rare. A possible cause of pneumocephalus is high-pressure air applied into the orbit may cause without any evidence of a facial fracture. The mechanism behind pneumocephalus may be secondary to a blast of air from the orbit to the intracranial space with a degree of pressure. We report a case of compressed air injury induced by disseminated pneumocephalus in the absence of a facial bone fracture detected on multidetector computed tomography. After 5 days, a follow-up indicated that the pneumocephalus was almost completely resolved without visual loss.

[en] Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) is a rare tumor that commonly involves the salivary glands. EMC arising from the nasal cavity is one of the most unusual cases. We describe a case of a 48-year-old patient who is presented with bilateral nasal obstruction for several months. Multidetector computed tomography reveals expansile, well-defined, heterogeneous enhancing soft tissue masses filling the nasal cavity with bony destruction of hard palate and maxillary alveolar ridge. The carcinoma was histologically characterized by a mixture of trabecular structure with myoepithelial cells and ductal cells, which are confirmed by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry.