Background:The FHIT (fragile histidine triad) gene is a frequent target of deletions associated with abnormal RNA and protein expression in lung cancer. Previous studies have shown FHIT gene transfer into lung cancer cell line lacking FHIT protein expression resulted in inhibition of tumor cell growth attributable to the induction of apoptosis and reversion of tumorigenecity. However, the mechanism of the tumor suppressor activity of the FHIT gene and the cellular pathways associated with its function are not completely understood.Methods:To gain insight into the biological function of FHIT, we compared the NCI-H358 cell line with its stable FHIT transfectants after treatment with cisplatin or paclitaxel. We investigated the effects of FHIT gene expression on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and activation of caspase system and Bcl-2 family. The induction of apoptosis was evaluated by using DAPI staining and flow cytometry. Activation of caspases and Bcl-2 members was evaluated by Western blot analysis.Results:A significantly increased cell death was observed in FHIT transfectants after cisplatin or paclitaxel treatment and this was attributable to the induction of apoptosis. Remarkable changes in caspases and Bcl-2 family were observed in the transfected cells as compared with the control cells after treatment with paclitaxel. Activation of caspase-3 and caspase-7 was markedly increased in cells expressing FHIT. Expression level of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL protein was significantly decreased and that of Bax and Bad protein was significantly increased in the transfected cells.Conclusion:FHIT gene delivery into lung cancer cells results in enhanced apoptosis induced by treatment with cisplatin or paclitaxel. The data suggest that apoptosis in FHIT-expressing cells could be related to activation of caspase pathway and Bcl-2 family.(Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2004, 56:450-464)
Background:Bronchial anthracofibrosis is one of the main manifestations of lung disease that is related to woodsmoke inhalation, and it is frequently associated with various pulmonary diseases, such as tuberculosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of bronchial anthracofibrosis in patients with endobronchial tuberculosis.Methods : 63 patients, who were diagnosed with endobronchial tuberculosis using bronchoscopy, were included in this study. The patients consisted of 12 males and 51 females, having mean age of 59.5 years. The clinical features, radiologic and bronchoscopic findings between the patients with (37) and without (26) bronchial anthracofibrosis were analyzed retrospectively.Results:When the patients were older, bronchial anthracofibrosis was more frequent. The endobronchial tuberculosis, which was located at the right middle lobal bronchus, was more frequent in the patients with bronchial anthracofibrosis than in the patients without bronchial anthracofibrosis. In the morphologic types of endobronchial tuberculosis, patients with bronchial anthracofibrosis had more edematous-hyperemic and ulcerative types, while patients without bronchial anthracofibrosis had more active caseating.Conclusion : These findings suggest that the presence of bronchial anthracofibrosis can possibly influence the locations and morphologic types of endobronchial tuberculosis.(Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2004, 56:495-504)
Background:Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are useful in chemoprevention of colorectal cancers. Continuous NSAID administation causes 40% to 50% reduction in relative risk for colorectal cancer. Sulindac possesses an antiproliferative effect and induces apoptosis and tumor regression on colon cancer and other types of cancers. We intended to analyze the effects of sulindac in three non-small cell lung cancer cell lines.Materials and Methods:The human lung cancer cell lines, A549, NCI-H157 and NCI-H460 were used for this study. Viability was tested by MTT assay, and cell death rate was measured by lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) release. Apoptosis was estimated by flow cytometric analysis and nuclear staining. Results: Sulindac was able to decrease the viability of non-small cell lung cancer cells in a dose- and time- dependent manner. In a parallel effect of sulindac on cell death rate, LDH release was increased in sulindac-treated lung cancer cells. Sulindac significantly increased apoptosis characterized by an increase of sub-G0/G1 fraction and morphological change of nuclei. The rate of apoptotic cells after sulindac treatment in lung cancer cells increased in a time- and dose- dependent manner in flow cytometric analysis. Apoptotic cells were defined as nuclear shrinkage, chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation of cells.Conclusion:Sulindac decreases viability and induces the apoptosis of lung cancer cells. Further studies will be needed to elucidate the potential mechanism of sulindac-induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells.(Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2004, 56:514-522)
Background:Bronchoscopy in patients on mechanical ventilation is being performed much more frequently. However, there is little data on the changes in physiologic parameters and no established mechanical ventilation protocol during bronchoscopy. A decreasing or the removal of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) during bronchoscopy may precipitate severe hypoxemia and/or derecruitment.Methods:Our standardized mechanical ventilation protocol, without changing the PEEP level, was used during bronchoscopy. The physiological parameters were measured during the bronchoscopic procedure.Results:During bronchoscopy, respiratory acidosis, elevation of peak pressure, elevation of heart rate and auto-PEEP were developed, but were reversible changes. Procedure-related gross barotraumas or other severe complications did not developed.Conclusion:No serious complications developed during bronchoscopy under our standardized mechanical ventilation protocol when the PEEP level remained unchanged. The procedure time should be kept to a minimum to decrease the exposure time to undesirable physiological changes.(Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2004, 56:523-531)
Acute fulminating pulmonary edema was developed in 20 year old female following an acute airway obstruction due to a burglary attack on neck with bare hands. The pathogenesis of pulmonary edema is related to the alveolar and capillary damage induced by the severe negative pressure generated by attempting to inspire against the closed upper airway. This female responded to fluid restriction and oxygen supply. To our knowledge, pulmonary edema caused by man has never been reported in the literature.(Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2004, 56:532-535)
Catamenial hemoptysis is a rare condition caused by thoracic endometriosis that presents as tracheobronchial or pulmonary endometriosis. While hormonal treatment may cause virilization and sterility, due to the antiestrogenic effect, its surgical removal via thoracotomy is a particularly invasive procedure and is not recommended as the first choice treatment in young woman. Successful surgical removal by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has recently been reported, and may be indicated for young patients who at some stage would like to become pregnant.Herein, a case of a 25-year-old unmarried woman with catamenial hemoptysis, cured by VATS, is reported.(Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2004, 56:542-549)
A paragonimiasis infestation is caused by the paragonimus species. It is commonly found in the lung but has also been found to exist extrapulmonary infestations including cerebral, spinal, subcutaneous, hepatic, splenic, abdominal, urinary, and gynecologic infestation. On the other hand, a cutaneous infestation is extremely rare. Human infestation is caused by ingesting raw or undercooked intermediate hosts. Because paragonimus westermani larva mature to an adult worm in the lung, the possibility of identifying the adult worm of paragonimus westermani at extrapulmonary region is very rare.Case:After ingesting a fresh-water crab 1 month prior to the hospital visit, a 45-year old female patient was suffering from right pleuritic chest pain during that 1 month. The patient also complained of a palpable mass that was movable and migrating, and it was localized at the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. The eosinophil fraction of the white blood cell of peripheral blood and pleural fluid was elevated to 55.1% and 90%, respectively. Parasite eggs were not found in her sputum and stool examination. By using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the paragonimus-specific IgG antibody titer was elevated to 0.28. During incisional biopsy, we were able to find the young adult worm of paragonimus westermani. We experienced the rare case of ectopic paragonimiasis with pleural effusion that was confirmed by identifying the adult worm of paragonimus westermani within the abdominal subcutaneous tissue. We report a case with brief literature reviews.(Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2004, 56:550-554)