Alterations in the blood glucose, serum lipids and renal oxidative stress in diabetic rats by supplementation of onion (Allium cepa. Linn)

This study examined the anti-diabetic effect of onion (Allium cepa. Linn) in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into normal rats fed control diet or supplemented with onion powder (7% w/w) and diabetic rats fed control diet or supplemented with onion powder. Diabetes was induced by a single injection of STZ (60 mg/kg, ip) in citrate buffer. The animals were fed each of the experimental diet for 5 weeks. Blood glucose levels of rats supplemented with onion were lower than those of rats fed control diet in the diabetic rats. Onion also decreased the total serum lipid, triglyceride, and atherogenic index and increased HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio in the diabetic rats. Glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase activities were high in the diabetic rats compared to normal rats and reverted to near-control values by onion. These results indicate that onion decreased blood glucose, serum lipid levels and reduced renal oxidative stress in STZ-induced diabetic rats and this effect might exert the anti-diabetic effect of onion.

An Assessment of Obesity and Dietary Habits of College Students Taking the Course Health and Diet / 대한지역사회영양학회지

We examined the obesity levels and dietary habits of 323 college students taking the course 'Health and Diet' as a part of theirnutritional education. The average percentages of body fat, BMI and RBW for subjects in this study were 16.7%, 21.5kg/m2 and -1.2% in male students and 27.3%, 21.2kg/m2 and 1.0% in female students, respectively. BMI and RBW indicated fewer cases of obesity among female students than BIA did. The average intake of energy by subjects was lower than the RDA of energy. In particular, the average intakes of calcium, iron, and vitamin A by female students were much lower than the RDA of energy. In particular, the average intakes of calcium, iron, and vitamin A by female students were much lower than the RDAs of each of those nutrients. The percent RDAs of nutrient intakes of energy, protein, thiamin, and riboflavin were lower in underweight students than in students of normal and over-weight. Female students were found to skip mealsand consume sweet foods more frequently than male students. The obesity levels of students related to the number of meals eaten per day as well as the frequency of consuming sweet foods. Although, it was not possible to determine statistically, the levels obesity also seemed to correspond to the speed at which meals were eate as well as the frequency of eating salty foods. These results suggest that in order to assess obesity propertly, more research that focuses on subjects' gender should be conducted. In addition, nutritional education should emphasize the importance of intakes of energy and phosphorus for male students, and the danger of iron and calcium deficiencies for female students. We should also educate students about dietary habits which contribute to obesity such as overeating and the intake of sweet foods.

MRI Findings of Cervical Lymphadenopathy: Preliminary Study

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate findings in MRI which maybe useful in differential diagnosis of cervical lymph node enlargement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the MRI findings of cervical lymph node enlargement in surgically proven 13 patients. We analyzed the location, size and shape, signal intensity, margin between node and surrounding structures degree and patterns of contrast enhancement RESULTS: No disease specificity in location and size of lymphadenopathy. was demonstrated in MRI. Most lymph nodes shows isointensity or slightly increased signal intensity to adjacent muscle on T1WI and high signal intensity on T2WI. Most of the cases showed contrast enhancement with metastatic lymph nodes showing ring-like and/or patchy enhancement. Tuberculous lymphadenopathy showed homogeneous or rather thick walled ring-like enhancement and one or multiple central nonenhancing portions of eccentrical location in the node. Relatively homogeneous enhancements were noted on reactive lymphold hyperplasia, Lymphoma and Castleman's disease. CONCLUSION: MR imaging was helpful in differentiation of cervical lymph node enlargements. Tuberculous lymphadenopathy showed characteristic findings of rather spherical shaped, thick walled ring enhancement and multiple eccentrically located central nonenhancing portions.

MR Imaging of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

PURPOSE: There is increasing awareness of the clinical importance of early detection and treatment of posterior cruciate ligament(PCL) injury. We evaluate the usefulness of Magnetic resonance(MR) imaging in the diagnosis of PCL injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the MR images of 140 cases with clinically suspected knee injury. Arthroscopic or surgical correlation was available in 63 cases. We observed the finding and extent of PCL injury and other associated abnormalities. The frequency of anterior and posterior meniscofemoral ligament was evaluated. RESULTS: Eleven PCL injuries were observed, six midsubstance tears, two tibial attachment tears, two fernoral attachment tear, one laxity. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MR imaging diagnosis are 100%, 98.1%, 98.4%. MR findings of PCL injury are discontinuity and focal mass formation, irregular increased signal intensity, detachment or redundancy of the ligament with avulsed bony fragment. In all cases of injured PCL, other associated abnormalities of adjacent structures were observed. Accessory anterior and posterior meniscofemoral ligaments were observed in 67.4%(87/129). CONCLUSION: MR imaging is useful in evaluation of presence or absence of PCL injury, accurate extent of PCL injury and other important associated abnormalities of adjacent structures.

Double contrast CT arthrographic findings of shoulder instability

Gleno-humeral joint is a ball and socket joint. It has the greatest range of movement among all the joints of the body. The greatest range of movement is inevitably accompanied by a considerable loss in stability. Thirty-three persons underwent Double contrast CT arthrography of the shoulder for the evaluation of suspected shoulder derangement. We performed 62 shoulder arthrography(33 abnormal shoulders and 29 normal shoulders) and reviewed their findings retrospectively. They had recurrent shoulder dislocation(30 shoulders) or nonspecific shoulder pain(3 shoulders). Injury of the glenoid labrum was seen in 28 shoulders at double contrast CT arthrography. Among 28 cases of the labral injury, detachment was seen in 15 cases, labral tear in 5 cases, and labral erosion in 8 cases. Double contrast CT arthrography also showed Hill-Sachs in 20 shoulders. The numbers of type 1, type 2, and type 3 capsulolabral attachment in 33 shoulder instability cases were 10, 16, and 7, respectivity, while, 16, 12, and, 1 in 29 normal controls. Type 2 and 3 are more common in shoulder instability group than normal control group. Operation was done in 18 shoulders. Comparing with operation findings, the sensitivity of double contrast CT arthrography in the detection of Hill-Sachs defect was 100% with the specificity of 71% and the accuracy of 89%. The sensitivity, and accuracy of double contrast CT arthrography in the detection of labral injury were 94%, 100%, and 95, respectively. Double contrast CT arthrography is a minimally invasive and highly accurate technique for in the evaluation of glenohumeral instability.