BACKGROUND. Many studies have shown that angiogenesis plays an important role in the growth, progression, and metastasis of solid tumors. Recently, several angiogenic factors have been identified. ...Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is thought to be one such angiogenic factor and is also thought to be a selective mitogen for endothelial cells. We investigated the correlation between the expression of VEGF and the progression of gastric carcinoma.
METHODS. One hundred twenty‐nine specimens resected from patients with gastric carcinoma were investigated by staining with a polyclonal antibody against VEGF. Correlations between the expression of VEGF, microvessel density, and various clinicopathologic factors were studied.
RESULTS. Microvessel density, determined by immunostaining for Factor VIII related antigen, was significantly higher in VEGF‐positive tumors than in VEGF‐negative tumors. VEGF positivity was correlated with vessel involvement, lymph node metastasis, and liver metastasis. Moreover, patients with VEGF‐positive tumors had a significantly poorer prognosis than those with VEGF‐negative tumors. Multivariate analysis indicated that the expression of VEGF is an independent prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer. According to the mode of recurrence, the frequency of hepatic metastases was significantly increased among patients with VEGF‐positive tumors.
CONCLUSIONS. The expression of VEGF may be a good prognostic indicator for patients with gastric carcinoma and may also be useful as a predictor of the mode of recurrence in patients with gastric carcinoma. Cancer 1996;77:858‐63.
Obesity-induced inflammation is characterized by recruitment of adipose tissue macrophages that release inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. MIP-1α (macrophage inflammatory protein 1α)/CCL3, a CC ...chemokine, induces monocyte/macrophage infiltration and thus is implicated in obesity-induced adipose inflammation. Quercetin has been shown to modulate obesity-induced inflammation, but the mechanism of its action remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that quercetin decreases MIP-1α release from adipocytes and macrophages and from cocultured adipocytes/macrophages; it also opposes MIP-1α–induced macrophage infiltration and activation. The inhibitory action of quercetin on the MIP-1α–induced inflammatory responses of macrophages is mediated by downregulation of CCR1/CCR5, and inhibition of activation of JNK, p38 mitogen-activated-protein kinase (MAPK), and IKK as well as IκBα degradation. These findings suggest that quercetin may be a useful agent against obesity-induced adipose tissue inflammation.
This study aimed at analyzing the causes of death of prisoners of war (POWs) during the Korean War (1950-1953) who fought for the Communist side (North Korea and the People's Republic of China). In ...1998, the United States Department of Defense released new information about the prisoners including, 7,614 deaths of the POW during the Korean War. The data on the causes of death of the POWs during the Korean War provides valuable information on the both the public health and history of the conflict.
To analyze the causes of death of the POWs, we classified the clinical diagnosis and findings on 7,614 deaths into 22 chapters, as outlined in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems-10th Revision (ICD-10). Second, we traced changes in the monthly death totals of POWs as well as deaths caused by common infectious diseases and external causes of death including injury over time from August 1950 to September 1953.
The most common category of causes of deaths of POWs was infectious disease, 5,013 (65.8%) out of 7,614 deaths, followed by external causes including injury, 817 (10.7%). Overall, tuberculosis and dysentery/diarrhea were the most common causes of death. Deaths caused by acute and chronic infection, or external causes showed different patterns of increases and decline over time during the Korean War.
The information and data on POWs' deaths during the Korean War reflects the critical impact of the POWs' living conditions and the effect of public health measures implemented in POW camps during the war.
Objectives: This study aims to examine the association of depression, suicidal behaviors with smartphone use behaviors among Korean adolescents. Methods: We analyzed data from 'Youth Health and Life ...Skills Survey' in 2013. The survey was based on self-reported questionnaires distributed to 915 grade 7th and 8th students at four middle schools in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, Korea in 2013 to evaluate the effects of 'Youth Health and Life Skills' program. Depression and suicidal behaviors were measured in terms of the experience rate, and smartphone use behaviors were measured with average hours of smartphone use a day and overindulged behaviors in smartphone use by using 5-point Likert scales. We examined the association of depression and suicidal behaviors with smartphone use behaviors by using t-test and regression analyses. Results: 21.5% of respondents have ever felt depressed or hopeless to lose interest in school life almost everyday for 2 weeks or longer in the past year. The experience rate of suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and suicidal attempt were 21.1%, 6.1%, and 5.7%, respectively. The mean of average hours of smartphone use a day was 3.9 hours, and the mean score of overindulged behaviors in smartphone use was 2.99. The students who have experienced depression and suicidal behaviors were more likely to have more smartphone using time and higher scores of overindulged behaviors in smartphne use than those who have not. Conclusion: We concluded that for preventing addictive or problematic smartphone use behaviors among adolescents we should consider and develop more positive strategies for the moderate use of smartphone than regulatory measures, which include the implementation of skill-based health education program including life skills at schools and the development of smartphone applications useful for resolving mental stress and promoting mental health.
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