Association of the vascular endothelial damage and estrogen, progesterone / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study were to examine the serum level of estradiol, estriol, progesterone, oxidized LDL in preeclamtic patients and to evaluate the protective effects of estrogen and progesterone against lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) induced cell death in Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS: We analysed the serum level of estradiol, estriol, progesterone, oxidized LDL in patients with preeclampsia and control. We used LPC to induce cell death in HUVECs. For cytotoxic assay, we did LDL assay for cell death and Resazurin assay for cell viability. HUVECs were exposed to various concentrations of LPC, LPC+estrogen, LPC+progesterone and we did cytotoxic assay. RESULTS: The serum estradiol, estriol were lower in the preeclamptic patients (P<0.05). Oxidized LDL were higher in the preeclamptic patients(P<0.05). LPC induced cell death in a concentration-dependant manner. Estrogen or progesterone inhibited LPC-induced cell death in a concentration-dependant manner (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Estrogen and progesterone attenuated LPC-induced cytotoxicity. The results suggest that Oxidized LDL induced endothelial damage in preeclampsia may be induced by low serum estradiol, estriol and progesterone levels and prevented by estrogen and progesterone addition.

The Study of 5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Polymorphism and Its Effect on Pregnancy Outcomes among the Korean Population / 대한주산의학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze MTHFR polymorphism among the Korean population and to evaluate the relationship between serum levels of homocysteine and MTHFR polymorphism and also to investigate the effect on pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: DNA was extracted from whole blood of 600 pregnant women. All samples were genotyped for the C677T and A1298C polymorphisms in MTHFR gene by PCR-RELP assay. Serum levels of homocysteine and folate were measured by high performance liquid chromatography for homocysteine and radioassay for folate. Pregnancy outcomes were estimated by gestational weeks and birth weights of newborns. RESULTS: Serum homocysteine was higher in women with the T/T genotype than those with the C/T or C/C genotype of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism (p<0.05). And also serum homocysteine was higher in women with the A/A genotype than those with the A/C or C/C genotype of the MTHFR A1298C polymorphism (p<0.05). Serum homocysteine was negatively correlated with serum folate in all MTHFR genotypes, especially prominent in T/T genotype of MTHFR C677T polymorphism and A/A genotype of MTHFR A1298C polymorphism. Gestational age and the birth weight of infant from hyperhomocysteinemic mothers whose homocysteine levels higher than 15 micromol/L were 36.1 weeks, 3053.8g, respectively, which were significant lower than those from normohomocysteinemic mothers (38.3 weeks, 3,215.3g) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum homocysteine was influenced significantly by MTHFR C677T polymorphism and MTHFR A1298C polymorphism. MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphism and serum homocysteine levels affect pregnancy outcomes, although not mainly by serum folate level.

The Interaction of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Polymorphism with Homocysteine in Pregnant Women / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum levels of folic acid, vitamin B12 and homocysteine and C677T metylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) mutation in pregnant women. METHODS: DNA was extracted from whole blood of 177 pregnant women. All samples were genotyped for the C677T polymorphism in MTHFR gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR-RELP). Serum levels of homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 were measured by high performance liquid chromatography for homocysteine, and radioassay for folate and vitamin B12. RESULTS: Serum homocysteine was higher in women with the T/T genotype than those with the C/T or the C/C genotype of the MTHFR gene (p<0.05). Serum homocysteine was negatively correlated with serum folate in all MTHFR genotypes (p<0.001). Serum homocysteine was increased in pregnant women with the T/T type of the MTHFR gene only when the serum folate fell below the median compared to those stayed above the median level (p<0.05). Serum folate was positively correlated with serum vitamin B12 in all subjects. CONCLUSION: Serum homocysteine varied significantly by the MTHFR genotype and the serum B vitamin status.

A Study for Effects of Economic Growth Rate and Unemployment Rate to Suicide Rate in Korea / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of the economic growth and unemployment rates on the suicide rate in Korea, between 1983 and 2000, using a time-series regression model. The purpose of this study was to model and test the magnitude of the rate of suicide, with the Korean unemployment rate and GDP. METHODS: Using suicide rate per 100, 000 Koreans and the unemployment rates between 1983 and 2000, as published by the Korea National Statistical Office, and the rate of fluctuation of the Korean GDP (Gross Domestic Product), as provided by the Bank of Korea, as an index of the economic growth rate, a time-series regression analysis, with a first-order autoregressive regression model, was performed. RESULTS: An 81.5% of the variability in the suicide rate was explained by GDP, and 82.6% of that was explained by the unemployment rate. It was also observed that the GDP negatively correlated with the suicide rate, while the unemployment and suicide rates were positively correlated. For subjects aged over 20, both the GDP and unemployment rate were found to be a significant factors in explaining suicide rates, with coefficients of determination of 86.5 and 87.9%, respectively. For subjects aged under 20, however, only the GDP was found to be a significant factor in explaning suicide rates (the coeficient of determination is 38.4%). CONCLUSION: It was found that the suicide rate was closely related to the National's economic status of Korea, which is similar to the results found in studies in other countries. We expected, therefore, that this study could be used as the basis for further suicide-related studies.