The tumor suppressor gene, phosphate and tensin homologue(PTEN) has been shown to dephosphorylate the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI 3-K)-generated phosphatidylinositol(3-5)-triphosphate in vivo, thus interfering with the potentially oncogenic signals emanating from PI 3-K. Promoter hypermethylation of CpG islands has recently been shown to be an epigenetic change resulting in loss of function in some genes involved in cell cycle regulation and DNA repair. Immunohistochemal staining for monoclonal antibody 6H2.1 was performed from paraffin embedded blocks of 20 benign epithelial lesions and 40 head and neck squamous cell carcinomas(HNSCCs). Immunoreactivity was graded semiquantitatively by considering the percentage and intensity of the staining of the tumor cells. Also, this study tried to identify PTEN methylation in benign epithelial lesions(24 cases) and HNSCCs(44 cases of paraffin embedded blocks, 4 cases of frozen tissues) using methylation-specific PCR(MSP). In HNSCCs, immunoreactive scores of stage 1 and 2(12 cases, average score 85.2) were higher than those of stage 3 and 4(15 cases, 41.9) and statistically significant(P=0.017). Immunoreactive scores of moderate and poorly differentiated carcinomas(22 cases, 61.6) are more or less lower than those of well differentiated carcinoma(15 cases, 87.0) but not significant(P=0.361). Among 24 cases of benign epithelial lesions, 12 cases showed unmethylated PTEN but none methylated. In HNSCCs, 22 of 44 paraffin embedded blocks showed unmethylated PTEN but none methylated, and all 4 frozen tissue revealed unmethylated PTEN, one of which(25%) methylated. We consider that the loss of PTEN protein expression may be associated with the progression of HNSCCs and the other alteration rather than methylation may be important in the inactivation of PTEN in HNSCCs.

Genomic imprinting is defined as parent-of-origin expression of specific genes and may play an important role in embryonal development of mammals. Loss of imprinting(LOI), biallelic expression of the imprinted genes, have been observed in a variety of human tumors and syndromes. H19, a paternally imprinted gene, is transcribed as an untranslated RNA that serves as a riboregulator. LOI of H19 is observed in a variety of human malignancies. In this study, LOI of H19 was examined in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas(HNSCCs). Four(28.6%) of the 14 HNSCCs and 8(28.6%) of the 28 inflammatory oral lesions were informative for imprinting analysis of H19. H19 was imprinted in all inflammatory oral lesions, however, 2(50%) of the 4 informative HNSCCs manifested LOI. These data suggest that LOI of the H19 may play a role in the oncogenesis of HNSCC.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorder has been associated with long hours of computer work and prolonged periods of static posture. In clinical settings, postural correction is a common treatment approach for individuals with neck, shoulder, and back pain. This study was designed to identify the effect of Forward Head Posture Correctional Device during computer work. Twelve healthy adults (mean age, 27.4 yrs; mean height, 165.0cm mean weight, 65.8 kg) participated in the study. They had no medical history of neurological or surgical problems with their upper extremity. The subjects were asked to perform Head Forward Posture under the guidance of physical therapists and the measured angles were analyzed using a 3-D motion analysis system. Markers were placed on the C7 spinous process, tragus of the ear and forward head angle was between the line from the tragus to the C7 line and the Y-axis at the C7. The statistical significance of difference between, "without" and "with" correctional device was tested by paired t-test. A level of significance was set at α=.05. In comparison of the computer work between "without" and "with" correctional device, Forward Head Angle was showed significant difference (p<.05). In conclusion, the range of Forward Head Angle was significantly decreased during computer work with the correctional device. Further research is needed to understand the nature of motor control problems in deep muscles in patients with neck, shoulder, and back pain.

The purpose of this study was to determine the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of various forward head posture measurements. Ten healthy adults (age, 20.4±2.2 yrs; height, 164.0±5.5 ㎝; weight, 58.7±7.3 ㎏) participated in the study. They were free of injury and neurologic deficits in the upper extremities and neck at the time of testing. The subjects were asked to perform head forward posture by under the guidance of physical therapists. Markers were placed on the C7 spinous process, mastoid process, tragus of the ear, outer canthus, and forehead. Measurement 1 for forward head posture assessment was measured as the angle between the horizontal line through C7 and the line connecting the C7 spinous process with the tragus of the ear. Measurement 2 was measured as the angle between the C7 spinous process, the mastoid process and the outer canthus. Measurement 3 was measured as two kinds of angles the HT (head tilt) angle is between the line from the midpoint of forehead to the tragus line and Y-axis at the tragus point. The NF (neck flexion) angle is between the line from the tragus to the C7 line and the Y-axis at the C7. Intra-rater, inter-rater reliability and coefficient of variation was assessed by comparing the measured values from three kinds of measurements of forward head posture. The intra-rater reliability was indicated by intraclass correlation coefficients [ICC(1,1)] and inter-rater reliability was shown by intraclass correlation coefficients [ICC(3,k)]. The results of study were as follows: ICC(1,1) values for intra-rater reliability of three measurements were in the 'excellent' category. ICC(3,k) values for inter-rater reliability of three measurements were also in the 'excellent' category. The coefficient of variation of method 2 had a lower value than method 1 and method 3. This data means that the measured value of method 2 was less scattered. Further research is needed to determine whether the validity of all measurements is revealed in the 'excellent' category.

We conducted a series of in vitro experiments to evaluate the efficiency of photodynamic therapy on head and neck cancer cell using hydroxybacteriochlorine from photosynthetic bacteria. We tested the cytotoxicity of the hydroxybacteriochlorine by MTI assay and observed the cell death pattern(apoptosis or necrosis) after PDT by hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide staining methods IC50 value of the hydroxybacteriochlorine was 0.22μg/rrúi. At higher doses of hydroxybacteriochlorine () 0.6μg/rrúi) , cancer cells died exclusively by necrosis after PDT. By contrast, at IC50 value, hydroxybacteriochlorine induced cancer cell to undergo apoptotic cell death. The induction begins approximately 6 hours after PDT. We investigates intracellular localization of hydroxybacteriochlorine by head & neck cancer cell via confocal laser scanning microscopy. Head & neck cancer cells dual-stained with hydroxybacteriochlorine and a panel of organelle- specific fluorescence probes (Mitotracker, Lysotracker, ER-Tracker) revealed an intracellular fluorescence distribution restricted to cytoplasmic compartments with no detectable fluorescence in the nucleus Confocal images of cells containing hydroxybacteriochlorine were never overlap in subcellular organelle fluorescence when digitally over layed with the organelle-specific fluorescence probe images of the same cells. These results demonstrated that the hydroxybacteriochlorine may have a function as a photosensitizer.

IASL(iodo acetamide) and MSL(maleimide) disordered the orderly helix arrangement of myosin in the rest state of spin level. Especially the effect of IASL was great. Equatorial refiection(10,11) change inferred that myosin head was moved to the vicinity of actin filament by spin level. The intensity change of 143a and 72a could offer information of the mass projection of population of myosin heads along the :filament axis. The slope of intensity profile of the mass projection of 143a and reflection of IASL is appeared and that of MSL is appeared sharply. The decrease of 215a reflection intensity is appeared the periodical characteristic of 143a reflection by spin label. The raise of MSL actin reflection at 51a and 59a in the actin reflection change refers that the shifted myosin head binds a certain actin or changes an actin structure by spin label effect. Because iodo acetamide has a tendency to decease the actin reflection, actin dose not bind myosin head. From this result, we could conclude that LASL and MSL are spin labeled on SH of myosin head and disordered the helix arrangement of actin.