Neuroprotective Effect of Rapamycin in Optic Nerve Transection Model

PURPOSE: The present study investigated whether rapamycin activated autophagy in retinal ganglion cells (RGC) and evaluated its effect on RGC survival following optic nerve transection (ONT). METHODS: The activation of autophagy in RGCs after intravitreal injection of rapamycin was evaluated with the immunohistochemical staining of phospho-S6 ribosomal protein. Rapamycin or 0.1% DMSO was injected intravitreally immediately after ONT. At 1 and 2 weeks after ONT, the RGCs were counted. Rapamycin and autophagy inhibitors, 3-methyladenine or Wortmannin were co-injected intravitreally after ONT and the RGCs were counted 1 week later. RESULTS: Expression of phospho-S6 ribosomal protein was decreased in RGCs after intravitreal injection of rapamycin. The RGC number was significantly higher in the rapamycin group than in the control group 1 week after ONT. However, the RGC number was not different between the 2 groups 2 weeks after ONT. Repeated intravitreal injection of rapamycin at 1-week intervals showed neuroprotection 2 weeks after ONT. The RGC number was not different between the control group and the co-injection group of rapamycin-autophagy inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: Activated autophagy by rapamycin was neuroprotective in RGC after ONT.

Analysis of Serum Antioxidant Materials Concentration and Their Relation with Blood Lipids and Anthropometric Indices in Middle-Aged Adults in Korea

The serum levels of antioxidant materials (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, lycopene, alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, retinol) of the healthy Korean middle-aged adults (n = 373) were measured and their relationships with the serum lipids and anthropometric indices were analyzed. The serum levels of beta-cryptoxanthin, beta-carotene, lutein were higher than those of lycopene and alpha-carotene. The levels of all measured carotenoids except lutein were significantly higher in females than in males, but retinol level was vice versa. There was a tendency of increase in serum levels of antioxidant vitamins with increasing age. The serum carotenoid levels had a positive correlation with serum cholesterol and a negative correlation with serum triglyceride. The serum levels of tocopherols or retinol showed a significantly positive relationship with blood cholesterol or triglyceride. In overall, anthropometric indices showed negative relations with serum carotenoids levels, but vice versa with serum tocopherol or retinol levels. Particularly, beta-carotene and lutein levels showed a significantly negative relation with blood pressure in male subjects. The serum levels of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin had significantly negative relations with body fat-related indices in female subjects. The results demonstrated that blood antioxidants levels differed by sex and age, and had significant relations with blood lipid levels and anthropometric indices. Therefore, the rationale and significance of the relationships need to be elucidated in the future study related to dietary intakes and life style.

Effects of soybean isoflavone extract on the plasma lipid profiles and antioxidant enzyme activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The present study evaluated the effects of various dosages of soybean isoflavone extract on lipid profiles, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activities in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The one normal control group was fed an AIN-76-based experimental diet and four diabetic groups were fed the same diet, supplemented with four different levels of soybean isoflavone extract for seven weeks. The daily dosages of pure isoflavone for four diabetic groups were set to be 0 mg (diabetic control), 0.5 mg (ISO-I), 3.0 mg (ISO-II) and 30.0 mg (ISO-III) per kilogram of body weight, respectively. The plasma total cholesterol levels and the TBA-reactive substances contents in the liver and kidney were significantly lowered in ISO-II and ISO-III groups compared to those in the diabetic control group. The levels of plasma HDL-cholesterol, plasma vitamin A and hepatic superoxide dismutase were significantly increased in those two groups compared with the diabetic control group. The present study demonstrated the possibility that the diets supplemented with 3.0 mg and 30.0 mg of soybean isoflavone extract may have beneficial effects on the plasma lipids, tissue lipid peroxidation and partly on antioxidant system in diabetic animals and there were no significant differences between the ISO-II and ISO-III groups. The results suggest that the effective daily dosage level of isoflavone for improving lipid metabolism in diabetic rats may be above 3.0 mg per kilogram body weight.

Normal antistreptolysin O titers of children by age group in the Gyeonggi-Incheon region / 소아과

PURPOSE: Measurement of antistreptolysin O (ASO) is often necessary to confirm a clinical diagnosis of recent streptococcal infection, especially in patients suspected of rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis. Standard normal ranges for ASO should be established locally for each age group. We analyzed ASO to determine the upper limit of normal (ULN) ASO in children in the Gyeonggi-Incheon area. METHODS: ASO in normal individual concentrations were measured quantitatively by nephelometry on sera from 753 children (Male:381, Female:372). ULN were determined by separating the upper 20% from the lower 80% of the group (80 percentile). RESULTS: The mean ASO concentration calculated in a total cases was 149.9+/-7.2 IU/mL. The ASO concentration in neonates was 83.4+/-10.7 IU/mL, and lowest in the 1 year of age group, 26.7+/-6.6 IU/ mL, and increased to 318.0+/-33.2 IU/mL gradually in the 9 years of age group. Thereafter, ASO concentration decreased. The ULN for neonates was 122 IU/mL, for 0-3 years, 40 IU/mL; for 4-6 years, 113 IU/ mL; for 7-9 years, 489 IU/mL; for 10-19 years, 433 IU/mL; for 20-29 years, 122 IU/mL. CONCLUSION: The age-specific ULN for children in the Gyeonggi-Incheon area were determined. The distribution of ASO concentration according to age groups was different from previous reports. These results should be of clinical value to physicians to interprete the ASO results of their patients.

Echocardiographic Parameters for Predicting the Outcome of Patients Undergoing Surgery for Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to identify echocardiographic parameters related to postoperative clinical outcome (PCO) in patients undergoing surgery for severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) following mitral valve surgery. The indications for surgery due to severe TR following mitral valve surgery are not well defined largely because of a lack of knowledge of the prognostic factors of PCO in these patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients (male/female; 2/16, mean age 58 years) with severe TR associated with prior mitral valve surgery were prospectively enrolled. Comprehensive echocardiographic examinations were performed before and 15+/-7 months after surgery. Favorable PCO was defined as an improvement of > or =1 in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class or a >25% increase in respiratory variation of IVC diameter. Non-survivors and survivors without a favorable PCO were defined as having an unfavorable PCO. RESULTS: The operative mortality was 11% (2/18). Of the 16 survivors, nine (9/16, 56%) achieved a favorable PCO. NYHA functional class, age, left ventricular ejection fraction, right ventricular fractional area change, severity of TR and pulmonary artery pressure were not related to PCO. Only systolic tricuspid annulus velocity (ST') was found to be associated with PCO (favorable vs unfavorable PCO; 12.9+/-2.1cm/s vs 9.7+/-1.7cm/s, p<0.05). For ST' value (9.5 cm/s, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for predicting an unfavorable PCO were 67%, 100%, 100% and 75%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study shows that ST' can predict PCO in patients undergoing surgery for severe TR following mitral valve surgery.

Correlation between Radiologically Identified Osteitis and Prognosis in Chronic Rhinosinusitis / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We studied the correlation between radiologically identified bony osteitis and prognosis of the functional endoscopic sinus surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis patients. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective review of medical records were carried out on 77 patients who had been diagnosed as chronic paranasal sinusitis and undergone endoscopic sinus surgery from 2002 through 2003 at our institution. Computed tomography scans were used for grading according to the Lund-Mackay radiologic grading system and diagnosis the pansinusitis coexistence. Medical records were used for grading according to the Lund-Mackay surgical grading system and for follow-up observation and age. Statistical analysis was done for correlation between radiologically identified indices and post-operative prognosis. RESULTS: The study revealed that radiologically identified bony osteitis need a longer post-operative medical management period and also found that if pansinusitis coexist with osteitis, poorer outcome would be accompanied. CONCLUSION: This study provides further evidence that radiologically identified bony osteitis and pansinusitis may act as poor prognostic factors.

A Case of Medullomyoblastoma of Cerebellopontine Angle Mimicking Acoustic Neuroma

Medulloblastoma is a common malignant central nervous system neoplasm found mainly in children. One the contrary, medulloblastoma of the cerebellopontine angle, the location of the tumor is very unusual. This is the the first case of the medullomyoblastoma, a rare form of medulloblastoma, occurring in the cerebellopontine angle. A 15-year-old boy experienced a sudden hearing loss in the left ear. Conservative medical treatment failed, and temporal MR imaging revealed a heterogeneously enhancing mass at the left cerebellopontine angle cistern and in the internal auditory canal; therefore, the lesion was regarded as a typical acoustic neuroma. Few days before surgery, an ipsilateral facial palsy developed, and a follow-up MR imaging showed a rapid growth of the previous lesion. The extended translabyrinthine approach permitted surgical removal. And under pathological diagnosis of malignancy, radiation therapy and series of chemotherapy was performed.

A Case of G-6-PD Guadalajara / 소아과

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase(G-6-PD) deficiency is a disease that shows hemolytic anemia and jaundice caused by injury of erythrocytes. The gene of G-6-PD has 13 exons and locates in Xq28, and over 150 mutations of this gene have been reported. We experienced a G-6-PD deficienct male patient who was suffering hemolytic anemia and jaundice confirmed by measuring low G-6-PD activity in the erythrocytes. We found point mutation at 1159th nucleotide in 10th exon, cytosine was changed to thymidine, and was confirmed as G-6-PD Guadalajara.

A survey on Patients' Compliance with Follow-up Coronary Angiogram after Coronary Intervention / 성인간호학회지

Coronary intervention is now a well established method for the treatment of coronary artery disease. Coronary restenosis is one of the major limitations after coronary intervention. So medical teams advise the patients to get the follow-up coronary angiogram in 6 months after coronary intervention to know if the coronary artery stenosis recurs or not. This study was done in order to know how many patients complied with the advice, and to identify the relative factors to the compliance with getting the follow-up coronary angiogram. The subjects were 101 patients (male: 58 female: 22, mean age: 61+/-15), who received coronary interventions from Jan. 1st to Mar. 31st 1997, and their data were collected from them by questionnaires one year after intervention. The questionnaires consisted of family support scale, self efficacy scale and compliance with sick role behavior scale. The result may be summarized as follows. 1. The number of patients who complied with getting the follow-up coronary angiogram were 37 people(36.6%) and did not comply with it were 64 people(63.4%). All scores of family support(t=5.56, p.05). 2. The major motivations for getting follow-up coronary angiogram were recurrence of subjective symptom(40.5%), the advice of medical team(32.4%), and fear of recurrence (27.1%). The restenosis rate in patients who got the follow-up coronary angiogram was 37.8%. 3.The restenosis rate was higher in the patients who had subjective symptoms than in those who did not have any subjective symptom. So subjective symptom and restenosis rate showed a high positive correlation(r=39.9, p<.001). However, 27.2% of the patients who did not have any subjective symptom showed coronary restenosis. 4. The reasons why they did not get the follow-up coronary angiogram were economic burden(37.5%), improved symptom(34.4%), busy life schedule(10.9%), fear of invasive procedure(9.4%), negative reaction of family member(3.1%), no helper for patient(3.1%) and worry about medical team's mistake (1.6%). The relative fators on compliance with getting the follow-up coronary angiogram after coronary intervention were family support, self-efficacy and Compliance with sick role behavior. And the most important reason why the patients did not get the follow-up coronary angiogram after coronary intervention was an economic burden.