The Association between Low Vitamin D Status and Autoimmune Thyroid Disease in Korean Premenopausal Women: The 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013–2014 / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the association of low vitamin D status with thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunction in the Korean population according to sex and menopausal status in women. METHODS: This study was based on the data acquired from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We enrolled 4,356 subjects who had data of thyroid function, antithyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels. We excluded subjects who were pregnant and who had a history of thyroid disease or thyroid cancer, and those with transient thyroid dysfunction who tested negative for TPOAb (TPOAb[−]). RESULTS: TPOAb positivity (TPOAb[+]) with thyroid dysfunction (subclinical and overt hypothyroidism) was more prevalent in the vitamin D deficient group than in the vitamin D insufficient and sufficient groups including premenopausal (P=0.046) and postmenopausal women (P=0.032), although no significant differences were observed in men. The mean serum 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in the TPOAb(+) with thyroid dysfunction group than in the TPOAb(+) with euthyroidism and TPOAb(−) groups of premenopausal women (P=0.001), although no significant differences were observed in men and postmenopausal women. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, body mass index, and current smoking status, showed that vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were significantly associated with TPOAb(+) with thyroid dysfunction in premenopausal women (P<0.001), although no significant associations were observed in men and postmenopausal women. CONCLUSION: Low vitamin D status was significantly associated with thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunction in the Korean population, especially in premenopausal women.

Association between Alcohol Consumption and Mental Health (Perceived Stress, Depressive Mood, Suicidal Ideation, Quality of Life) in Koreans: The Sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2015

BACKGROUND: Causal hypotheses suggest that alcohol-related disorders may also cause psychiatric disorders and problems, or vice versa. The association between alcohol consumption and mental health is important from both research and therapeutic viewpoints. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the association between alcohol consumption and mental health (perceived stress, depressive mood, suicidal ideation, quality of life) in Korean adults over 19 years old.METHODS: We finally included 5,399 adults who had participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2015, and analyzed the association between alcohol consumption and mental health, using logistic regression.RESULTS: Perceived stress was associated with alcohol consumption in problem drinkers (odds ratio [OR]=1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.13–1.61). Depressive mood was associated with alcohol consumption in moderate and problem drinkers (OR=0.90, 95% CI=0.71–1.11 and OR=1.35, 95% CI=1.06–1.70, respectively). Suicidal ideation was not associated with alcohol consumption in moderate and problem drinkers (P=0.063 and P=0.068, respectively). Quality of life was associated with alcohol consumption in moderate and problem drinkers (OR=0.48, 95% CI=0.41–0.57 and OR=0.77, 95% CI=0.66–0.92, respectively).CONCLUSION: We found that moderate drinkers have a lower risk of depressive mood and a higher quality of life as compared to low drinkers. However, problem drinkers have a higher quality of life but a higher risk of perceived stress and depressive mood as compared to low drinkers.

The Association between Low Back Pain and Mental Health in Korean Adults Over the Age of 50: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013

BACKGROUND: Lower back pain (LBP) is the most common musculoskeletal disease in adults over the age of 50. LBP is associated with physical activity and mental health such as depression or suicidal thoughts. We aimed to analyze the association between LBP and mental health and that between physical activity and depressive mood in LBP patients among Korean adults over the age of 50.METHODS: We included 2,681 adults in the analysis, who participated in the 2013 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and used a t-test, logistic regression analysis, and chi-squared test via complex sampling. We analyzed the association between LBP and mental health, various kinds of physical activity, and depressive mood after adjusting for confounding factors.RESULTS: Poor mental health (perception of stress, diagnosis of depression, depressive mood, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts) were significantly associated with LBP. The LBP group was 2.077 times more likely to be diagnosed with depression and was 4.666 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than the control group. Exercise, such as walking, was associated with a reduced risk of depressive mood in subjects with LBP.CONCLUSION: LBP patients were at high risk of being diagnosed with depression, experiencing suicidal thoughts and depressive mood, and attempting suicide. In LBP patients, walking was associated with a reduced depressive mood.

Erratum: Blood flow-improving activity of methyl jasmonate-treated adventitious roots of mountain ginseng / 한국실험동물학회지

In this article, So-Young Park is inadvertently omitted from the listed author names. In the Acknowledgement section, funding source is incorrectly cited and has been changed upon request of authors.

Hwangryunhaedoktang exerts anti-inflammation on LPS-induced NO production by suppressing MAPK and NF- κB activation in RAW264.7 macrophages / 中西医结合学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study aimed to evaluate whether Hwangryunhaedoktang (HHT), a herbal compound, has an inhibitory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 macrophages.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The effects of HHT were evaluated by confirming nitric oxide (NO) production and expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages via the Griess assay, Western blotting, and real-time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Western blot analyses and luciferase assays were used to evaluate whether HHT has an effect on the phosphorylation and translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). The secretion and expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analyses.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HHT suppressed LPS-induced NO production and expression of iNOS in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, MAPKs activation was also attenuated via inhibition of phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2, c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 which were related to inflammatory pathway. Furthermore, HHT also effectively attenuated NF-κB activation and its translocation to the nucleus, a process that is closely linked to inflammation. LPS normally induced the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6, but the secretion and expression of TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly attenuated by pretreating the cells with HHT.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HHT suppressed LPS-induced NO production by blocking the activation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways in RAW264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, HHT may have an anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing the LPS-induced secretion of TNF-α and IL-6. Therefore, the traditional herbal formula HHT might be a useful potential therapeutic agent for inflammation.</p>

Arterial Spin Labeling Perfusion MRI of Crossed Cerebellar Diaschisis in a Patient with Simple Partial Status Epilepticus

Crossed cerebellar diaschisis (CCD) is known to be due to a contralateral supratentorial lesion decreasing blood flow and the metabolism in a cerebellar hemisphere. Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is an imaging technique that utilizes arterial blood water as a tracer for quantifying the regional cerebral blood flow in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This case was a patient with simple partial status epilepticus (SPSE) and CCD confirmed by ASL-perfusion MRI. Controlling the SPSE resulted in improvement of CCD being observed in the follow-up ASL-perfusion MRI.

Blood flow-improving activity of methyl jasmonate-treated adventitious roots of mountain ginseng / 한국실험동물학회지

Ginsenosides from Panax ginseng are well known for their diverse pharmacological effects including antithrombotic activity. Since adventitious roots of mountain ginseng (ARMG) also contain various ginsenosides, blood flow-improving effects of the dried powder and extract of ARMG were investigated. Rats were orally administered with dried powder (PARMG) or ethanol extract (EARMG) of ARMG (125, 250 or 500 mg/kg) or aspirin (30 mg/kg, a reference control) for 3 weeks. Forty min after the final administration, carotid arterial thrombosis was induced by applying a 70% FeCl₃-soaked filter paper outside the arterial wall for 5 min, and the blood flow was monitored with a laser Doppler probe. Both PARMG and EARMG delayed the FeCl₃-induced arterial occlusion in a dose-dependent manner, doubling the occlusion time at high doses. In mechanism studies, a high concentration of EARMG inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen in vitro. In addition, EARMG improved the blood lipid profiles, decreasing triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Although additional action mechanisms remain to be clarified, it is suggested that ARMG containing high amount of ginsenosides such as Rg₃ improves blood flow not only by inhibiting oxidative thrombosis, but also by modifying blood lipid profiles.

A large cardiogenic thrombus lodged at the carotid bifurcation mimicking severe carotid stenosis

A 62-year-old woman without vascular risk factors presented with left-sided weakness and numbness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain depicted acute right hemispheric infarcts in the cortical and subcortical white matter. Initial MR angiography (MRA) showed large thrombus at the right carotid bifurcation. Valvular atrial fibrillation (vAF) with severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) was found on two-dimensional echocardiography. Serial follow-up computed tomography angiography (CTA) or MRA at 3, 9, and 15 days after anticoagulation alone showed complete resolution of the thrombus with no neurological deterioration. Our case suggests that prompt institution of anticoagulantion alone may result in radiologic resolution of the thrombus with improvement in patient’s clinical status.

Seizure Induction by Artemisia Annua in an Epilepsy Patient Taking Levetiracetam

Artemisia annua is a wormwood. Because it may induce Cytochrome P450 2C19 enzyme, Artemisia annua may have an influence on antiepileptic drugs which are substrates for the enzyme. This influence may negatively affect seizure control of epilepsy patient. We present a patient whose seizures were induced by Artemisia annua, despite he was taking levetiracetam which is not a substrate for the hepatic enzyme. Therefore there would be another mechanism of seizure induction of Artemisia annua besides hepatic metabolism.

Combined use of a McGrath(R) MAC video laryngoscope and Frova Intubating Introducer in a patient with Pierre Robin syndrome: a case report / 대한마취과학회지

Patients with Pierre Robin syndrome are characterized by micrognathia, retrognathia, glossoptosis, and respiratory obstruction and are prone to have a difficult-to-intubate airway. The McGrath(R) MAC video laryngoscope provides a better view of the glottis than a Macintosh laryngoscope, but it is not easy to insert an endotracheal tube through the vocal cords because a video laryngoscope has a much greater curvature than that of a conventional direct laryngoscope and an endotracheal tube has a different curvature. The Frova Intubating Introducer is used as a railroad for an endotracheal tube in cases of a difficult airway. We thought that a combination of these two devices would make it easy to insert an endotracheal tube through the vocal cords, as a McGrath(R) MAC video laryngoscope provides a better glottic view and the Frova Intubating Introducer is a useful device for placing an endotracheal tube through the glottis. We report a successful endotracheal intubation with use of the McGrath(R) MAC video laryngoscope and Frova Intubating Introducer in a patient with Pierre Robin syndrome.