Inflammatory Markers and Brain Volume in Patients with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Objective@#Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by increased inflammatory processing and altered brain volume. In this study, we investigated the relationship between inflammatory markers and brain volume in patients with PTSD. @*Methods@#Forty-five patients with PTSD, and 70 healthy controls (HC) completed clinical assessments and self-reported psychopathology scales. Factors associated with inflammatory responses including brain-derived neurotrophic factor and four inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein, cortisol, Interleukin-6, and homocysteine) and T1-magnetic resonance imaging of the brain were measured. @*Results@#In the PTSD group, cortisol level was significantly lower (t = 2.438, p = 0.046) than that of the HC. Cortisol level was significantly negatively correlated with the left thalamus proper (r = −0.369, p = 0.035), right thalamus proper (r = −0.394, p = 0.014), right frontal pole (r = −0.348, p = 0.039), left occipital pole (r = −0.338, p = 0.044), and right superior occipital gyrus (r = −0.397, p = 0.008) in patients with PTSD. However, these significant correlations were not observed in HC. @*Conclusion@#Our results indicate that increased cortisol level, even though its average level was lower than that of HC, is associated with smaller volumes of the thalamus, right frontal pole, left occipital pole, and right superior occipital gyrus in patients with PTSD. Cortisol, a major stress hormone, might be a reliable biomarker to brain volumes and pathophysiological pathways in patients with PTSD.

Less Healthy Dietary Pattern is Associated with Smoking in Korean Men According to Nationally Representative Data

The relationship between smoking and nutrient intake has been widely investigated in several countries. However, Korea presents a population with a smoking rate of approximately 50% and dietary consumption of unique foods. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association of dietary patterns with smoking in Korean men using a nationally representative sample. The study subjects were comprised of 4,851 Korean men over 19 yr of age who participated in the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Dietary data were assessed by the 24-hr recall method. The smoking group comprised 2,136 men (46.6%). Five dietary patterns were derived using factor analysis: 'sugar & fat', 'vegetables & seafood', 'meat & drinks', 'grains & eggs', and 'potatoes, fruits and dairy products.' Current smokers showed a more significant 'sugar & fat' pattern (P = 0.001) while significantly less of the 'vegetables & seafood' and 'potatoes, fruits and dairy products' patterns (P = 0.011, P < 0.001, respectively). As found in similar results from Western studies, Korean male smokers showed less healthy dietary patterns than nonsmokers. Thus, the result of this study underlines the need for health professionals to also provide advice on dietary patterns when counseling patients on smoking cessation.

Influence of glide path on the screw-in effect and torque of nickel-titanium rotary files in simulated resin root canals

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the screw-in effect and torque generation depending on the size of glide path during root canal preparation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty Endo-Training Blocks (REF A 0177, Dentsply Maillefer) were used. They were divided into 4 groups. For groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, the glide path was established with ISO #13 Path File (Dentsply Maillefer), #15 NiTi K-file NITIFLEX (Dentsply Maillefer), modified #16 Path File (equivalent to #18), and #20 NiTi K-file NITIFLEX, respectively. The screw-in force and resultant torque were measured using a custom-made experimental apparatus while canals were instrumented with ProTaper S1 (Dentsply Maillefer) at a constant speed of 300 rpm with an automated pecking motion. A statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance and the Duncan post hoc comparison test. RESULTS: Group 4 showed lowest screw-in effect (2.796 +/- 0.134) among the groups (p < 0.05). Torque was inversely proportional to the glide path of each group. In #20 glide path group, the screw-in effect and torque decreased at the last 1 mm from the apical terminus. However, in the other groups, the decrease of the screw-in effect and torque did not occur in the last 1 mm from the apical terminus. CONCLUSIONS: The establishment of a larger glide path before NiTi rotary instrumentation appears to be appropriate for safely shaping the canal. It is recommended to establish #20 glide path with NiTi file when using ProTaper NiTi rotary instruments system safely.

The Distribution of Intraocular Pressure and Its Association With Metabolic Syndrome in a Community / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The current study was performed to assess the distribution of intraocular pressure (IOP) and its association with metabolic syndrome (MS) in a community. METHODS: We measured IOP and MS components from 446 adults, age 20 or more years old, who reside in a community in Kyunggi Province, South Korea. We compared the level of IOP according to the number of metabolic abnormalities and between normal and abnormal metabolic components. Linear regression analyses were used to determine the relationship between IOP and metabolic components. RESULTS: No significant difference in IOP (mean +/- SE) was found between men (12.24 +/- 2.42) and women (12.55 +/- 2.41 mmHg, p > 0.1), while IOP of men tended to decrease as age increased (p for trend < 0.01). After adjusting for age, IOP of subjects with abdominal obesity in men and high blood pressure in women were significantly higher than those without abdominal obesity or high blood pressure (p < 0.05). Female subjects with MS showed significantly higher IOP than those without MS. Participants with more metabolic disturbances tended to have a greater IOP elevation with a linear trend after adjusting for age and sex. In the univariate regression analysis, age and waist circumference were significantly associated with IOP in men, but systolic and diastolic blood pressure were associated with IOP in women. In final multiple regression model, age, systolic blood pressure, and triglyceride were associated with IOP in women, and age in men. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that MS and its components may be important determinants of elevated IOP.

Clinical features and prognosis in pregnant women with thyroid cancer / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to evaluate pregnancy outcomes and whether to change disease progress of thyroid cancer during peripartum period in pregnant women diagnosed as thyroid cancer. to examine the effect of pregnancy on the prognosis of concomitant thyroid cancer. METHODS: The retrospective study was made by the review of medical records of 37 pregnancies of pregnant women with thyroid cancer, who had delivered in our hospital between Jan. 1990 and Jun. 2004. Pregnancy outcomes and treatment process were described. RESULTS: There were 37 deliveries of 34 women diagnosed as thyroid cancer among 23,303 deliveries of women who had delivered at our hospital during the study period. The mean age at operation for thyroid cancer and delivery was 26.7 +/- 3.6 years old and 30.1 +/- 3.8 years old, respectively. Regarding to the mode of delivery, there were 26 cases of vaginal delivery, 10 cases of cesarean section including emergency and one termination in 26-week gestational age because of severe fetal anomaly. Another women got a therapeutic abortion in 18-week gestational age because of subsequent unexpected pregnancy during postoperative radioiodine therapy. All of them undertook thyroid operation; thyroidecomy (9 cases of total thyroidectomy, 9 cases of subtotal thyroidectomy and 19 cases of lobectomy) and then got synthyroid and postoperative radioiodine therapy, if necessary. There were 11 women with relapse evidence of thyroid cancer during follow-up periods. And there was no difference of recurrence rate and clinical outcomes (e.g, lymph node metastasis or tumor size) between the group diagnosed as thyroid cancer during pregnancy and those with thyroid cancer who were not pregnant at the time of diagnosis. CONCLUSION: There was no difference in the relapse of thyroid cancer during the peripartum period. It is attributed that thyroid cancer has an excellent long-term prognosis and initial aggressive surgery and postoperative adjuvant management has developed. The women with thyroid cancer could be pregnant and deliver without a fear of relapse unless she is under radioiodine therapy or in aggravated disease state. We observed no increased risk in obstetric outcomes such as preterm delivery or small for gestational age.

A case of carcinoid tumor in ovarian mature cystic teratoma / 대한산부인과학회지

Primary ovarian carcinoid tumors usually arise in association with gastrointestinal or respiratory epithelium, which is present in mature cystic teratoma. One case of carcinoid tumor arising from ovarian mature cystic teratoma is presented with a brief review of the literatures. Right ovarian solid tumor was detected incidentally in a 28 year-old woman complaining foul odor vaginal discharge. Explorative laparotomy was done on 20th Feb. 2004. There was no ascites or adhesions, but fetal head sized and dermoid natured tumor was found on right ovary, and follicular cyst, on left ovary. Bilateral ovarian cystectomy was done, and she was discharged 7 days later without any problem. One third of the reported cases have been associated with the typical carcinoid syndrome, despite the absence of metastasis. The prognosis after excision of the primary tumor is favorable, and in most cases a cure results.

A Case of Pregnancy in Patient with Pulmonary Lymphangioleiomyomatosis / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis is a rare disorder of unknown cause and characterised by hamartomatous proliferation of smooth muscle occurring in women of reproductive age exclusively. It causes dyspnea, recurrent pneumothorax, chylothorax, hemoptysis and respiratory failure eventually. Chest radiographs show diffuse interstitial infiltrates and cysts of uniform size, and pulmonary function tests often show airflow limitation with increase in residual volume. Hormonal factors are thought to play a role because it generally affects premenopausal women, but there is no definite treatment yet. We present an unusual case of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis during normal pregnancy with a review of literature.

Induction of Hepatic Microsomal Cytochrome P450 by Styrene in Rat / 대한산업의학회지

The effects of styrene on the induction of cytochrome P-450s (P450), (P4501A1/2, P4502B1/2 and P4502El) and activities of other related enzymes were investigated in the male Sprague Dawley rats which were treated with styrene 500 (S1), 1,000 (S2) 1,500 (S3) mg/kg in olive oil intraperitoneally once a day for two days and sacrificed for the preparation of liver microsomes after 24 hrs. 1. The contents of total protein and P450 in the microsomes derived from the styrene treated groups were slightly higher than those from the control group except those from the 53 group (1,500 mg styrene/kg body weight) . The decreases in microsomal protein contents was prominent in the S3 (p<0.05), but the P450 contents was increased significantly in the S2 (p<0.05). 2. The activities of NADPH-P450 and NADH b5 reductase in hepatic microsomes derived from the treated groups were significantly increased in the treated groups(p<0.05). 3. The activities of PROD were also prominently increased with the treatment of styrene except in 53 group, but the activity of EROD was decreased by styrene treatment. The activities of pNPH in the styrene treated groups were higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). 5. Western blotting with monoclonal antibodies against P4502B1/2 isozymes showed the presence of P4502B1/2 in hepatic microsomes from the rats treated with styrene, and the increase in the densities of immunoblots were corelated with the dosages of styrene. The blot densities against P4501A1/2 and P4502El were slightly increased in the styrene treated groups compared with the control group. These results suggested that styrene could primarily induce P4502B1/2 as major and P4501A1/2 and P4502El in minor forms for the metabolism of styrene in rats.

Induction of Hepatic Microsomal Cytochrome P450 by Styrene in Rat / 대한산업의학회지

The effects of styrene on the induction of cytochrome P-450s (P450), (P4501A1/2, P4502B1/2 and P4502El) and activities of other related enzymes were investigated in the male Sprague Dawley rats which were treated with styrene 500 (S1), 1,000 (S2) 1,500 (S3) mg/kg in olive oil intraperitoneally once a day for two days and sacrificed for the preparation of liver microsomes after 24 hrs. 1. The contents of total protein and P450 in the microsomes derived from the styrene treated groups were slightly higher than those from the control group except those from the 53 group (1,500 mg styrene/kg body weight) . The decreases in microsomal protein contents was prominent in the S3 (p<0.05), but the P450 contents was increased significantly in the S2 (p<0.05). 2. The activities of NADPH-P450 and NADH b5 reductase in hepatic microsomes derived from the treated groups were significantly increased in the treated groups(p<0.05). 3. The activities of PROD were also prominently increased with the treatment of styrene except in 53 group, but the activity of EROD was decreased by styrene treatment. The activities of pNPH in the styrene treated groups were higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). 5. Western blotting with monoclonal antibodies against P4502B1/2 isozymes showed the presence of P4502B1/2 in hepatic microsomes from the rats treated with styrene, and the increase in the densities of immunoblots were corelated with the dosages of styrene. The blot densities against P4501A1/2 and P4502El were slightly increased in the styrene treated groups compared with the control group. These results suggested that styrene could primarily induce P4502B1/2 as major and P4501A1/2 and P4502El in minor forms for the metabolism of styrene in rats.

Effects of Ethanol on the Activities and Inducibility of Trichloroethylene Metabolic Enzyme System in Rat Liver / 예방의학회지

This study was performed to find out the influences of ethanol on the metabolism of trichloroethylene(TRI) in rats. TRI in corn oil at the dosage of 150, 300, 600 mg/kg was injected peritoneally once a day for two days to two groups. In one group ethanol(4 g/kg) was taken orally 30 minutes before TRI injection, and the other group ethanol was not. The results of experiments are as follows: 1. The contents of cytochrome P-450 and b5 had inverse relationship with in-jected TRI amounts in both groups. 2. The activity of NADPH P-450 reductase was decreased slowly in TRI injected group related with TRI amount, but decreased drastically in the group pretreated with ethanol. 3. The activity of NADH b5 reductase had relationship with injected TRI amount, but the statistical significance was found only in the groups of 300 and 600 mg/kg of TRI injected without relevance to ethanol when compared with the group that was not injected. 4. The activity of ADH was more decreased and ALDH activity was more increased in groups that TRI injected and ethanol was pretreated with ethanol groups than in group without any treatment. These results suggest that ethanol may inhibit epoxide formulation, the first step or TRI metabolism, and change from TCE-OH to TCA also.