An Integrative Review on Mental Health-related Quality of Life for the Mental Health Management of Workers / 한국직업건강간호학회지

Purpose@#Despite the importance of mental health-related quality of life among workers, its comprehensive understanding is lacking. This study aimed to identify influencing factors regarding mental health-related quality of life through a comprehensive literature review. @*Methods@#The integrative review method of Whittemore and Knaf was used. Data search was conducted on papers published before September 2020, and RISS, NDSL, and KISS were used for the search. @*Results@#Fourteen studies were selected for analysis. Five factors affecting the mental health-related quality of life of workers were found. Mental and physical health status, job stress, working environment, health behaviors, and other personal and socio-economic characteristics were significant influencing factors. @*Conclusion@#Findings from the review suggest the necessity of developing a customized intervention program to improve the mental health-related quality of life of workers.

Evaluation of Continuing Education Program to Enhance Competency for Hospice Volunteers: An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Design / 한국호스피스완화의료학회지

PURPOSE: Hospice volunteers are serving an invisible yet pivotal role in the hospice and palliative care team. This study investigated how effectively a continuing education program could enhance hospice volunteers' competency.METHODS: A total of 20 hours (four hours per week) of training was provided to 30 hospice volunteers who participated in the continuing education for hospice volunteers. Efficiency of the education was analyzed with an exploratory mixed-methods design. For quantitative analysis, the volunteers were asked, before and after the training, about their attitudes towards hospice care, what makes a meaningful life, self-efficacy and satisfaction with their volunteer service. Descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were performed using SPSS Window 20.0. For qualitative research, participants were placed in three groups for a focus group interview, and data were analyzed by content analysis.RESULTS: A quantitative study result shows that this training can significantly affect hospice volunteers' attitudes and improve their self-efficacy. A qualitative study result shows that participants wanted to receive continuous education from the physical/psychosocial/spiritual aspects to better serve end-of-life patients and their family members even though they have to spare significant time for the volunteer service. They wanted to know how to take good care of patients without getting themselves injured and how to provide spiritual care.CONCLUSION: The continuing education program reflecting volunteers' requests is strongly needed to improve their competency. An effective continuing education requires continuous training and support in areas where hospice volunteers are interested in. A good alternative is to combine web-based and hands-on training, thereby allowing hospice volunteers freely take training that suits their interest.

Effectiveness of a Positive Psychology-based and Character Strengths-integrated Activity Program on Depression, Vitality, Life Satisfaction in Elderly Living Alone in Rural Areas

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a positive psychology-based and character strengths-integrated activity program for elders living alone in rural areas, and then to examine the effectiveness of the program. METHODS: A quasi-experimental pre- and post-test design with a nonequivalent control group was used. The participants included 59 elders in total, of whom 30 were assigned to the experimental group and 29 to the control group. positive psychology-based and character strengths-integrated activity program for elders consists of sixty-minute sessions held twice per week during 6 weeks, hence 12 sessions in total. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the experimental and control groups in depression, vitality and life satisfaction (all p<.001). CONCLUSION: The positive psychology-based and character strengths-integrated activity program for elders living alone in rural areas is effective in that it decreased the degree of depression and increased the vitality and life satisfaction in the participants.

Genetic Variation of SCN5A in Korean Patients with Sick Sinus Syndrome

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Due to recent studies that have shown an association between the genetic variation of SCN5A and sick sinus syndrome (SSS), we sought to determine if a similar correlation existed in Korean patients with SSS. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 30 patients with SSS who showed a sinus pause (longer than 3.0 s) in Holter monitoring, in addition to 80 controls. All exons including the putative splicing sites of the SCN5A gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced either directly or following subcloning. Wild-type and single nucleotide polymorphisms were expressed in human embryonic kidney cells, and the peak sodium current (I(Na)) was analyzed using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. RESULTS: A total of 9 genetic variations were identified: 7 variations (G87A-A29A, IVS9-3C>A, A1673G-H558R, G3823A-D1275N, T5457C-D1819D, T5963G-L1988R, and C5129T-S1710L) had been previously reported, and 2 variants (A3075T-E1025D and T4847A-F1616Y) were novel; the potential structural effects of F1616Y were analyzed in a three-dimensional model of the SCN5A domain. Patch-clamp studies at room temperature demonstrated that the peak I(Na) was significantly increased by 140% in HEK cells transfected with F1616Y compared with wild-type (-335.13 pA/pF+/-24.04, n=8 vs. -139.95 pA/pF+/-23.76, n=7, respectively). Furthermore, the voltage dependency of the activation and steady-state inactivation of F1616Y were leftward-shifted compared with wild-type (V(h) activation=-55.36 mv+/-0.22, n=8 vs. V(h) activation=-44.21 mV+/-0.17, n=7; respectively; V(h) inactivation=-104.47 mV+/-0.21, n=7 vs. V(h) inactivation=-84.89 mV+/-0.09, n=12, respectively). CONCLUSION: F1616Y may be associated with SSS.

Effects of cosmetics containing purified honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) venom on acne vulgaris / 中西医结合学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Acne vulgaris is a chronic dermatologic problem with multiple factors involved in its pathogenesis. Alternative solutions to acne treatment were instigated by antibiotic resistance despite of its extensive use. Purified bee venom (PBV) has been proposed as a promising candidate for that purpose. The present study was designed to confirm the antibacterial effect of PBV and access the efficacy of cosmetics containing PBV in subjects with acne vulgaris.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The skin bacterium Propionibacterium acnes was incubated with PBV at various concentrations and bacterial growth was evaluated using the colony forming unit (CFU) assay. The mechanism of PBV employed in killing P. acnes was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In addition, a total of 12 subjects were randomized in a double-blind, controlled trial to receive either cosmetics containing PBV or cosmetics without PBV for two weeks. Evaluations included lesion counts and skin microorganism.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PBV exhibited antimicrobial activity in a concentration-dependent manner, reducing the number of P. acnes CFU by approximately 6 logs at a concentration of 0.5 mg. When PBV concentration was higher than 1.0 mg, no P. acnes colonies were spotted on an agar. TEM and SEM of untreated P. acnes illustrated the normal pleomorphic structure, whereas the PBV-treated bacterium lost the integrity of surface architecture. Significant difference (P=0.027) in the grading levels based on numbers of lesion counts for inflammatory and noninflammatory was observed in favour of the PBV group compared with the control group. In terms of average decrement of skin microorganism, subjects receiving cosmetics containing PBV experienced a significant 57.5% decrease of adenosine triphosphate levels, whereas participants receiving cosmetics without PBV experienced a nonsignificant decrease of 4.7%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results show that the in vitro actions of antimicrobial activity of PBV were translated in vivo. Cosmetics containing PBV provided a certain degree of efficacy in terms of lesion counts and skin microorganism concentration compared with cosmetics without PBV in subjects with acne vulgaris. PBV may be a good candidate compound for developing therapeutic drug for the treatment of acne vulgaris.</p>

Dietary effect of royal jelly supplementation on epidermal levels of hydration, filaggrins, free amino acids and the related enzyme expression in UV irradiated hairless mice

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation reduces epidermal hydration, which is paralleled by the reduction of natural moisturizing factors (NMFs). Of various NMFs, free amino acids (AAs) are major constituents generated by filaggrin degradation. In this study, we attempted to determine whether dietary supplementation of royal jelly (RJ) in UV-irradiated mice can alters epidermal levels of hydration, filaggrins, and free AAs as well as of peptidylarginine deiminase-3 (PAD3), an enzyme involved in filaggrin degradation processes. Albino hairless mice were fed either a control diet (group UV+: UV irradiated control) or diets with 1% RJ harvested from different areas in Korea (groups RJ1, RJ2, and RJ3) or imported from China (group RJ4) for six weeks in parallel with UV irradiation. A normal control group (group UV-) was fed a control diet without UV irradiation for six weeks. Reduced epidermal levels of hydration, total filaggrins, and PAD3 were observed in group UV+; in group RJ1, these levels were increased to a level similar to that of group UV-. In addition, profilaggrins, two repeat intermediates (2RI), a precursor with two filaggrin repeats, and filaggrin were increased. Although no alteration of AAs was observed in any of the groups, and glutamate and serine, major AAs of NMF in group RJ1 were higher than in group UV+. Despite the increased levels of PAD3, epidermal levels of hydration, filaggrins, glutamate, and serine in groups RJ2, RJ3, and RJ4 were similar to those in group UV+. Dietary supplementation of RJ1 improves epidermal hydration in parallel with enhanced expression and degradation of filaggrin, but not by increased protein expression of PAD3, along with increased generation of glutamate and serine.

Acute Dermal Toxicity Study of Bee Venom (Apis mellifera L.) in Rats

Bee venom (Apis mellifera L. BV) has been used as a cosmetic ingredient for anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial functions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute toxicity after a single dermal administration of BV, BV was administered to 2 groups of Sprague-Dawley (SD) male and female rats (5 animals/group) at doses of 0 and 1,500 mg/kg body weight (BW). Mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes and gross findings were continually monitored for 15 days following the single dose. There were no unscheduled deaths in any groups during the study period. No BV related clinical signs and body weight changes were observed in any groups during the study period. There were no abnormal gross findings at necropsy on day 15 after the treatment. On the basis of the above results, it was concluded that there were no treatment-related effect on mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes and gross findings in SD rats treated with a single dermal dose of BV at dose of 1,500 mg/kg BW. Therefore, the approximate lethal dose of BV was considered to be over 1,500 mg/kg/day for both sexes of rats. BV may provide a developmental basis for a cosmetic ingredient or external application for topical uses.

Skin Sensitization Study of Bee Venom (Apis mellifera L.) in Guinea Pigs

Bee venom (Apis mellifera L., BV) has been used as a cosmetic ingredient for antiaging, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial functions. The aim of this study was to access the skin sensitization of BV, a Buehler test was conducted fifty healthy male Hartley guinea pigs with three groups; Group G1 (BV-sensitization group, 20 animals), group G2 (the positive control-sensitization group, 20 animals), and group G3 (the ethyl alcohol-sensitization group, 10 animals). The exposure on the left flank for induction was repeated three times at intervals of one week. Two weeks after the last induction, the challenge was performed on the right flank. No treatment-related clinical signs or body weight changes were observed during the study period. The average skin reaction evaluated by erythema and edema on the challenge sites and sensitization rate in the BV-sensitization group at 30 hours were 0.0 and 0%, respectively, which are substantially low compared with in positive control group (average skin reaction: 0.55, sensitization rate: 40%) and identical with in vehicle control group, representing a weak sensitizing potential. The average skin reaction and sensitization rate observed at 54 hours were 0.0 and 0% in the BV-sensitization group, respectively, and 0.25 and 20% in the positive control group, respectively. It was concluded that BV classified to Grade I, induced no sensitization when tested in guinea pigs and may provide a developmental basis for a cosmetic ingredient or external application for topical uses.

Nutritional Status and Dietary Change after Gastrectomy of Gastric Cancer Patients / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this survey is to investigate the nutritional status and dietary intake of gastrectomized cancer patients in Asan Medical Center. The subjects were 98 patients, who underwent a gastrectomy due to gastric cancer and were admitted to the General Surgery Department during March 2007 to December 2007. We examined general characteristics (sex, age, clinicopathological stage, type of operation), anthropometric data (height, weight change), biochemical data (red blood cell RBC, hemoglobin HGB, hematocrit HCT, mean corpuscular volume MCV, total lymphocyte count TLC, albumin, total cholesterol), dietary intake and dietary intake related symptoms. Weight loss of gastrectomized patients was 9.0 +/- 4.3% from preillness weight to visiting out-patient department (OPD) weight. Biochemical data (RBC, HGB, HCT, MCV, TLC, albumin, total cholesterol) significantly deteriorated after gastrectomy. However, outpatient visits were all restored to the normal range. Postoperative energy intake was 785.0 +/- 164.2 kcal, which corresponds to 41.6 +/- 9.6% of daily energy requirement. The cause of poor oral intake is mostly fear, abdominal pain and abdominal discomfort. Therefore, to control pre-or post-operative weight change in the future requires, focusing on the body weight to maintain a normal or usual nutrition by interventions and increased caloric intake during hospitalization for the development of nutrient-dense meals. In addition, as the main reason of the lack of intake of meals after the gastrectomy was fear, the patients should be actively encouraged to consider the importance of eating proper meals.

Genetic Analysis of SCN5A in Korean Patients Associated with Atrioventricular Conduction Block

Recent several studies have shown that the genetic variation of SCN5A is related with atrioventricular conduction block (AVB); no study has yet been published in Koreans. Therefore, to determine the AVB-associated genetic variation in Korean patients, we investigated the genetic variation of SCN5A in Korean patients with AVB and compared with normal control subjects. We enrolled 113 patients with AVB and 80 normal controls with no cardiac symptoms. DNA was isolated from the peripheral blood, and all exons (exon 2-exon 28) except the untranslated region and exon-intron boundaries of the SCN5A gene were amplified by multiplex PCR and directly sequenced using an ABI PRISM 3100 Genetic Analyzer. When a variation was discovered in genomic DNA from AVB patients, we confirmed whether the same variation existed in the control genomic DNA. In the present study, a total of 7 genetic variations were detected in 113 AVB patients. Of the 7 variations, 5 (G87A-A29A, intervening sequence 9-3C>A, A1673G-H558R, G3578A-R1193Q, and T5457C-D1819D) have been reported in previous studies, and 2 (C48G-F16L and G3048A-T1016T) were novel variations that have not been reported. The 2 newly discovered variations were not found in the 80 normal controls. In addition, G298S, G514C, P1008S, G1406R, and D1595N, identified in other ethnic populations, were not detected in this study. We found 2 novel genetic variations in the SCN5A gene in Korean patients with AVB. However, further functional study might be needed.

Genetic Analysis of SCN5A in Korean Patients Associated with Atrioventricular Conduction Block

Recent several studies have shown that the genetic variation of SCN5A is related with atrioventricular conduction block (AVB); no study has yet been published in Koreans. Therefore, to determine the AVB-associated genetic variation in Korean patients, we investigated the genetic variation of SCN5A in Korean patients with AVB and compared with normal control subjects. We enrolled 113 patients with AVB and 80 normal controls with no cardiac symptoms. DNA was isolated from the peripheral blood, and all exons (exon 2-exon 28) except the untranslated region and exon-intron boundaries of the SCN5A gene were amplified by multiplex PCR and directly sequenced using an ABI PRISM 3100 Genetic Analyzer. When a variation was discovered in genomic DNA from AVB patients, we confirmed whether the same variation existed in the control genomic DNA. In the present study, a total of 7 genetic variations were detected in 113 AVB patients. Of the 7 variations, 5 (G87A-A29A, intervening sequence 9-3C>A, A1673G-H558R, G3578A-R1193Q, and T5457C-D1819D) have been reported in previous studies, and 2 (C48G-F16L and G3048A-T1016T) were novel variations that have not been reported. The 2 newly discovered variations were not found in the 80 normal controls. In addition, G298S, G514C, P1008S, G1406R, and D1595N, identified in other ethnic populations, were not detected in this study. We found 2 novel genetic variations in the SCN5A gene in Korean patients with AVB. However, further functional study might be needed.

Synnemata Production Using Silkworm Variety, Female Yangwonjam by Isaria tenuipes

This study was conducted to confirm the possible use of female Yangwonjam as a host for synnemata production of Isaria tenuipes in eight local areas in Korea. Silkworm pupation rate, infection rate and synnemata characteristics of I. tenuipes were examined. Normal silkworms had a higher pupation rate than silkworms inoculated with I. tenuipes. The pupae survival percentage of normal silkworm in cocoons was 92.5~97.6%, whereas it ranged from 91.1~95.6% in silkworms sprayed with I. tenuipes. Female Yangwonjam showed the highest survival percentage at 97.6% among the silkworm varieties tested. I. tenuipes infection rate of larvae of 5th instar newly-exuviated silkworms was 89.2~90.7% in the spring rearing season and 98.2~99.3% in the autumn rearing season. Synnemata production of I. tenuipes was excellent in female Yangwonjam with an incidence rate of 98.0% followed by male Yangwonjam (94.1%) and Baegokjam (93.3%) in the spring rearing season. Synnemata living weight ranged from 1.44~0.94 g in the spring rearing season. The female Yangwonjam had the heaviest synnemata weight (1.44 g) in the spring rearing season. The synnemata of I. tenuipes produced on pupae were white or milky-white in color, and were similar in shape and color to wild synnemata collected in Korea.

Prevalence of Nosema and Virus in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Colonies on Flowering Period of Acacia in Korea

Honey production from approximately 1.6 million colonies owned by about 199,000 Korean beekeepers was almost 23,000 metric tons in 2009. Nosema causes significant losses in honey production and the virus decreases population size. We initiated a survey of honey bee colonies on the blooming period of Acacia to determine the prevalence of Nosema and virus in 2011. Most Korean beekeepers have moved from the south to north of Korea to get Acacia nectar for 2 mon. This provided a valuable opportunity to sample bees originating from diverse areas in one location. Twenty hives owned by 18 beekeepers were sampled in this year. Nosema spore counts ranged from zero to 1,710,000 spores per bee. The average number of nosema spores per bee was 580,000. Approximately 95% of the colonies were infected with Nosema, based on the presence of spores in the flowering period of Acacia. This indicates that Nosema is the predominant species affecting honeybee colonies. Also, the seven most important honeybee viruses were investigated by reverse transcription-PCR. Among them, four different viruses were detected in samples. Black queen cell virus was present in all samples. Chronic bee paralysis virus was detected in 10% of samples. Deformed wing virus was present in only 5% of the samples. Prevalence of Sacbrood virus was 15%. However, Cloudy wing virus, Israel acute paralysis virus and kashmir bee virus were not detected in any of samples.

Royal jelly enhances migration of human dermal fibroblasts and alters the levels of cholesterol and sphinganine in an in vitro wound healing model

Oral administration of royal jelly (RJ) promotes wound healing in diabetic mice. Concerns have arisen regarding the efficacy of RJ on the wound healing process of normal skin cells. In this study, a wound was created by scratching normal human dermal fibroblasts, one of the major cells involved in the wound healing process. The area was promptly treated with RJ at varying concentrations of 0.1, 1.0, or 5 mg/ml for up to 48 hrs and migration was analyzed by evaluating closure of the wound margins. Furthermore, altered levels of lipids, which were recently reported to participate in the wound healing process, were analyzed by HPTLC and HPLC. Migration of fibroblasts peaked at 24 hrs after wounding. RJ treatment significantly accelerated the migration of fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner at 8 hrs. Although RJ also accelerated the migration of fibroblasts at both 20 hrs and 24 hrs after wounding, the efficacy was less potent than at 8 hrs. Among various lipid classes within fibroblasts, the level of cholesterol was significantly decreased at 8 hrs following administration of both 0.1 ug/ml and 5 mg/ml RJ. Despite a dose-dependent increase in sphinganines, the levels of sphingosines, ceramides, and glucosylceramides were not altered with any concentration of RJ. We demonstrated that RJ enhances the migration of fibroblasts and alters the levels of various lipids involved in the wound healing process.

The Role and Relation of VEGF, TGF-beta1 and CTGF in the Scar Formation of the Rat

Skin fibrotic disorders are understood to develop under the influence of various cytokines, such as transforming growth factor(TGF)-beta1, connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). To establish an appropriate animal model of skin fibrosis by exogenous application of growth factors, the author investigated the in vivo effects of growth factors by injecting recombinant TGF-beta1 protein and pCMV- Flag5-CTGF into the subcutaneous tissue of Sprague- Dawley rats. A single application of TGF-beta1 protein and CTGF DNA resulted in the formation of transient granulation tissue. Immunohistochemical finding showed increased expression of TGF-beta1 protein after injection of pCMV-Flag5-CTGF. In situ hybridization analysis revealed the expression of CTGF mRNA after injection of TGF-beta1 protein. VEGF expression was not affected by the TGF-beta1 and CTGF injection. These findings suggest TGF-beta1 and CTGF are deeply related with skin fibrosis and it appears that TGF-beta1 may cause the induction of CTGF expression. The animal model on skin fibrosis by exogenous application of TGF-beta1 protein and CTGF DNA developed in this study may be useful for future studies on fibrotic disorders.

Expression of Transforming Growth Factor-beta1 in Spontaneously Developed Diabetic Rats / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND: Diabetic nephropathy is a common cause of end-stage renal disease by means of glomerular and interstitial fibrosis. Increases in extracellular matrix (ECM) and changes in its components have been documented in the glomeruli of diabetic nephropathy. Fibrogenic cytokines, particularly transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, play a central role in progressive renal fibrosis. Activated TGF-beta1 is known to increase the production of ECM as collagen and fibronectin. Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rat is an inbred strain that spontaneously develops non-insulin-dependent diabets mellitus which progresses to diabetic glomerulosclerosis. This study is examined the time points and localization of TGF-beta1 in diabetic glomerulosclerosis of OLETF rats. METHODS: OLETF rats, a chronic model for human type 2 diabetes mellitus, and age-matched control (LETO) rats were used. Blood was assayed for glouse and body weight were measured. From rats aged 30 to 60 weeks, animals were sacrificed under ether anesthesia, and both kidneys were removed. Portions of these tissues were processed for light microscopy and immunohistochemistry of TGF-beta1. TGF-beta1 mRNA levels were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The body weights of OLETF rats were significantly greater than those of LETO rats from the age of 30 to 40 weeks, but those of OLETF rats gradually decreased after 40 weeks of age. There were no differences in body weights between these two strains at 50 weeks of age. Blood glucose levels of OLETF rats increased significantly with aging and were significantly higher than those of LETO rats after 32 weeks of age. There was no significant fibrosis in kidney of OLETF and LETO rats at all ages examined. The TGF-beta1 protein was detected in the glomerular endothelial cells and tubular epithelial cells of OLETF rats at 35 to 38 weeks of age. The TGF-beta1 protein in tubular epithelial cells of OLETF rats was strongly expressed at 60 weeks of age, whereas the glomerular endothelial cells scarcely detected the expression of TGF-beta1 protein. In LETO rat kidneys, the TGF-beta1 protein is detected in the glomerular endothelial cells at 35 weeks of ages, but is not detected in any other cells. The TGF-beta1 mRNA of OLETF rats were increased at 32 weeks of age, higher than that of control LETO rats. CONCLUSION: Until 60 weeks of age, glomerular sclerosis became very weakly in OLETF rats. However, in 30-week-old OLETF rats, the blood gloucose levels and TGF-beta1 protein increased significantly. The TGF-beta1 protein was detected in the glomerular endothelial cells and tubular epithelial cells of OLETF rats at 37 weeks of age.

The Effect of Ribbon-Type Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotides for Transforming Growth Factor-beta1 in Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction

BACKGROUND: In unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), the obstructed kidney is characterized by interstitial fibrosis and an increase in transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1. Interstitial expression of TGF-beta1 is important in tublointerstitial fibrosis. The objectives of this study is to make new ribbon-type antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) for TGF-beta1 which are resistant to exonuclease and to examine the effcets of TGF-beta1 on reducing tubulointerstitial fibrosis of the kidney. METHODS: We introduced a new ribbon-type antisense ODN for TGF-beta1 in rats using the UUO model to block interstitial fibrosis by tail vein injection. A combination of one antisense sequences for TGF-beta1 was adopted to construct a large antisense molecule with a loop and stem. Artificial viral envelope (AVE)-type hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ)-liposomes were used as a vector system for the delivery of antisense ODN. RESULTS: The levels of TGF-beta1 mRNA was decreased more in the cultured mesangial cells treated with ribbon-type antisense ODN than in that of a linear-type antisense ODN for TGF-beta1. TGF-beta1 mRNA was increased markedly in the interstitium of untreated obstructed kidneys. Northem analysis revealed that the levels of TGF-beta1 mRNA were decreased in the obstructed kidneys treated with antisense ODN. The fibrosis of the obstructed kidneys treated with ribbon-type antisense ODN was dramatically less than that of the untreated group. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that the introduction of new ribbon-type antisense ODN for TGF-beta1 may be a potential therapeutic maneuver for preventing interstitial fibrosis.

Early Detection of Metastasis by Immunohistochemistry in Uterine Cervical Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Adhesion molecules are important in the maintenance of normal epithelial structure, and altered expression of these molecules may be important in epithelial tumors, particularly in the processes of invasion and metastasis. METHODS: We have examined the expression of E-cadherin, cathepsin-D, CD44, CD44v6, nm23 and transforming growth factor-1 (TGF-1) proteins in the cervical squamous cell carcinoma to evaluate the prognostic significance of these molecules. RESULTS: Immunostain for E-cadherin was highly expressed in the majority of cases of cervical carcinomatous lesions (85.7-100%), but cathepsin-D was very low (7.1-32%). Immunostain for CD44 showed a lower expression in invasive carcinoma with and without metastasis (50.4 and 52.2%) than in carcinoma in situ (68.0%). CD44v6 protein showed some controversy of expression between invasive carcinoma with metastasis (35.7%) without metastasis (56.5%). Staining for nm23 was observed in the high expression of invasive lesions (85.7%). TGF-1 and C-erbB-2 protein were highly expressed, especially in the microinvasive carcinoma (81.8%, 42.8%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that CD44 and CD44v6 were not highly expressed in the invasive squamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix. However, it is notable that TGF-1 and c-erbB-2 in the microinvasive carcinoma and nm23 in invasive carcinoma were highly expressed compared to these of the other lesions of the uterine cervix.

Increased Expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in Human Lupus Nephritis / 대한신장학회잡지

Intercellular adhsion molecule-1(ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhension molecule-1(VCAM-1) are important cell-surface glycoprotein regulating interactions among immune cells, such as accessory and T cells. Recently, the cDNA encoding the ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 molecule has been isolated and monoclonal antibodies for ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 have been identified, thus allowing studies of ICAM-1 and VCAM- 1 expression using frozen or paraffin-embedded tissues. To determine whether altered expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 occurs in normal and autoimmune lupus nephritis, we studied the ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in kidneys of five normal human kidney specimens and 39 paraffin-embedded tissues from patients with lupus nephritis. By immunohistochemical staining of our materials, ICAM-1 was expressed in the glomerular cells in all cases with lupus nephritis. It was only expressed in the interstitial cell in one case with normal kidney. VCAM-1 expression was significantly increased in the distal tubules and in the interstitial cells, glomerular endothelial, parietal epithlial cells and urinary spaces with lupus nephritis. It was not expressed in the normal kidney. ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were strongly expressed in the crescents. These results suggest that ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 play an important role in the pathogenesis of glomerular damage and crescent formation in lupus nephritis.

Low Dose Sufentanil with Esmolol in Reducing the Increase of Heart Rate and Blood Pressure after Endotracheal Intubation / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation usually induce tachycardia and hypertension. Various drugs including esmolol and fentanyl have been employed to reduce the cardiovascular response accompanying laryngoscopy and intubation. The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of low dose sufentanil with esmolol in reducing hypertension and tachycardia induced by endotracheal intubation. METHODS: Forty surgical patients from Kosin medical hospital were randomly assigned to receive either normal saline (n = 20, control group) or sufentanil (0.3 microgram/kg) with esmolol (1 mg/kg) (n = 20, S & E group) before anesthetic induction. Anesthesia was induced intravenously with pentothal sodium 4 mg/kg followed by endotracheal intubation after succinylcholine 1 mg/kg. Changes in systolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and SpO2 (arterial oxygen saturation by pulse oximeter) were measured at 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 4 minutes and 5 minutes following intubation. The values of each group were compared with preinduction baseline values, and the S&E group was compared with the control group. Data were analyzed for statistical significance using repeated measures of ANOVA and chi-square test. RESULTS: In the S&E group, the systolic and mean arterial pressures at 30 seconds and 1 minute, and diastolic blood pressure at 30 seconds after intubation were significantly lower than the values of the control group (P < 0.01). The heart rates at 30 seconds, 1 minute were significantly lower compared to the control group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that pretreatment of low dose sufentanil with esmolol is effective to reduce the elevation of blood pressure and heart rate due to laryngoscopy and intubation.