Neuroprotective Effects of N-Acetyldopamine Dimers from Cicadidae Periostracum

The chemical investigation of the 90% EtOH extract from Cicadidae Periostracum led to the isolation and identification of seven known N-acetyldopamine dimers (1-7). These compounds were identified by comparing mass spectrometry data and NMR spectroscopic data with those previously reported. In this study, complete interpretation of 1D and 2D NMR data of 1 and 2 were reported for the first time. In addition, compounds 3 and 4 were isolated from this material for the first time. All isolates were obtained as racemic mixtures, as confirmed by chiral HPLC. Furthermore, we evaluated the neuroprotective activities of compounds 1–7 and found that compounds 1, 5, and 6 significantly attenuated rotenone-induced death of SH-SY5Yneuroblastoma cells at a concentration of 100 μM. Parallel to this result, compounds 3 and 6 displayed antioxidant effects in the cytoplasm, as determined by CM-H2DCFDA fluorescence intensity, while compounds 1 and 5 showed antioxidant effects in the mitochondria, as assessed by MitoSox fluorescence intensity. Overall, these results suggest that some of these compounds protect neuroblastoma cells by ameliorating the release of reactive oxygen species. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which these compounds exhibit antioxidant and neuroprotective actions.

Neuroprotective Effects of N-Acetyldopamine Dimers from Cicadidae Periostracum

The chemical investigation of the 90% EtOH extract from Cicadidae Periostracum led to the isolation and identification of seven known N-acetyldopamine dimers (1-7). These compounds were identified by comparing mass spectrometry data and NMR spectroscopic data with those previously reported. In this study, complete interpretation of 1D and 2D NMR data of 1 and 2 were reported for the first time. In addition, compounds 3 and 4 were isolated from this material for the first time. All isolates were obtained as racemic mixtures, as confirmed by chiral HPLC. Furthermore, we evaluated the neuroprotective activities of compounds 1–7 and found that compounds 1, 5, and 6 significantly attenuated rotenone-induced death of SH-SY5Yneuroblastoma cells at a concentration of 100 μM. Parallel to this result, compounds 3 and 6 displayed antioxidant effects in the cytoplasm, as determined by CM-H2DCFDA fluorescence intensity, while compounds 1 and 5 showed antioxidant effects in the mitochondria, as assessed by MitoSox fluorescence intensity. Overall, these results suggest that some of these compounds protect neuroblastoma cells by ameliorating the release of reactive oxygen species. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which these compounds exhibit antioxidant and neuroprotective actions.

Sagittal Sacropelvic Morphology and Balance in Patients with Sacroiliac Joint Pain Following Lumbar Fusion Surgery

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the sagittal sacropelvic morphology and balance of the patients with SIJ pain following lumbar fusion. METHODS: Among 452 patients who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion between June 2009 and January 2013, patients with postoperative SIJ pain, being responded to SIJ block were enrolled. For a control group, patients matched for sex, age group, the number of fused level and fusion to sacrum were randomly selected. Patients were assessed radiologic parameters including lumbar lordosis, pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT) and sacral slope (SS). To evaluate the sagittal sacropelvic morphology and balance, the ratio of PT/PI, SS/PI and PT/SS were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients with SIJ pain and 56 patients without SIJ pain were assessed. Postoperatively, SIJ pain group showed significantly greater PT (p=0.02) than non-SIJ pain group. Postoperatively, PT/PI and SS/PI in SIJ pain group was significantly greater and smaller than those in non-SIJ pain group respectively (p=0.03, 0.02, respectively) except for PT/SS (p=0.05). SIJ pain group did not show significant postoperative changes of PT/PI and SS/PI (p=0.09 and 0.08, respectively) while non-SIJ pain group showed significantly decrease of PT/PI (p=0.00) and increase of SS/PI (p=0.00). CONCLUSION: This study presents different sagittal sacropelvic morphology and balance between the patients with/without SIJ pain following lumbar fusion surgery. The patients with SIJ pain showed retroversed pelvis and vertical sacrum while the patients without SIJ pain have similar morphologic features with asymptomatic populations in the literature.

Cystic Giant Sacral Schwannoma Mimicking Aneurysmal Bone Cyst : A Case Report and Review of Literatures

To present a rare case of a cystic giant schwannoma of the sacrum mimicking aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC). A 54-year-old man visited our institute complaining left leg weakness and sensory change for several years. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large multilocular cystic mass with canal invasion and bone erosion confined to left S1 body. The lesion showed multiple septal enhancement without definite solid component. Initially the tumor was considered as ABC. The patient underwent grossly-total tumor resection with lumbosacral reconstruction via posterior approach. The tumor was proved to be a cystic schwannoma. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was relieved from preoperative symptoms. We present a rare case of pure cystic giant schwannoma confined to sacrum mimicking ABC. The surgical treatment is challenging due to the complex anatomy of the sacrum. Schwannoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of osteolytic sacral cysts.

Pattern of Hypertensive Management and Usefulness of Treatment Guideline in Primary Care

BACKGROUND: This study aimed at finding out how much the rate of the JNC-7 guideline was carried out, and assessed the degree of evidence based clinical practice patterns and the validity of the new guideline by comparatively analyzing primary care practice patterns in hypertensive patients. METHODS: A questionnaire regarding the management of hypertension was conducted by mail between May 15 and July 15, 2005, to 1,008 of the Korean Association of Family Medicine listed in the address book. There were 195 respondents with a response rate of 19.4%. RESULTS: Among the total respondents, 91.1% were aware of the new guideline and had received information mainly through training lectures and seminars. They said that the biggest difference between the new guideline from the previous one was the inclusion of prehypertension (62.3%), and 61.1% were using the new term prehypertension in their practice. The most frequency advice given to patients related to lifestyle modification were in the order of smoking cessation (44.8%), exercise (41.7%) and weight reduction (38.0%). Calcium channel blocker was the most commonly used (60.9%) as the first-line agent. When physicians failed to control blood pressure with the first medication in cases of stage 1 hypertension, 67.7% added other agents. In treating stage 2 hypertension, 59.9% started with a single agent and gradually added other agents. CONCLUSIONS: Family physicians in primary care clinics had a good understanding of the JNC-7 guideline. However, the rate at which they applied it in treatment was low. To effectively apply the guideline in actual treatments, aggressive education of practitioners and improvement on medical system and treatment guidelines are needed.

A Survey on the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Separation of Prescribing and Dispensing Medicine: Among Patients of Family Medicine Clinic in an University Hospital

BACKGROUND: In Korea, the separation of prescribing and dispensing medicine was finally accepted as a medical policy in July, 2000, after a long period of discussion and study which was started in 1963. Now a year after the policy started, we investigated the knowledge, attitude, and practice of separation of prescribing and dispensing medicine. METHODS: Information, concerning whether the policy was effectively carried out and well understood, were gathered from 383 patients, who visited an university hospital from August 20 to September 1, 2001. RESULTS: The results revealed that 73.1% of the subjects knew the policy precisely. However, only 1.6% of them could answer all four questions on the purpose of the policy. The old-aged, the low educated, the low socioeconomic groups and the residents in agricultural area revealed poor understanding of the policy (P<0.05). Among the total, 74.9% showed negative response toward the policy. Time and cost increment were 75.7% and 75.2%, respectively. Among them 61.1% revealed negative attitude towards continuance the policy and 93.2% revealed dissatisfaction of the policy. CONCLUSION: The knowledge of the policy was relatively high. However, negative attitudes prevailed on the continuance of the policy. Therefore, more solutions and better strategies for the problems of prescribing and dispensing medicine would be needed.

The relationship between alcohol consumption and serum liver enzymes in men

BACKGROUND: It is well known that heavy alcohol consumption may result in various lesions on multiple organs and tissue, especially liver. The aim of this study was to measure prevalence of raised liver derived enzymes in healthy men and possible association with alcohol consumption, smoking and body mass index. METHODS: All subjects were 450 men who received Adult Health Examination at Seoul Hospital of Konkuk medical center from May, 1998 to October, 1998. We carried out telephone survey and analyzed 360 men, excluding men with HBs Ag(+), hepatic problems within 6 months, medication drug that could change serum activity of hepatic enzyme or joints, myscles, cardiac problem and non responder to telephone survey. We examined prevalence of raised liver enzymes and its possible association with alcohol consumption, smoking, and body mass index, applying logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: In 20.3% of study subjects, we found raised levels of lver derived enzymes. If the alcohol consumption was higher than 270 g/week, the odds ratio(OR) for raised liver enzymes, adjusted for body mass index and smoking, increased ; serum gamma glutamyltransferase(gamma GTP)(OR: 9.48), serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST)(OR: 13.09), and serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)(OR: 7.40). Smoking was not associated with the risk of raised liver enzymes and obesity(body mass index 25 kg/m2) showed a positive association with two enzymes; gamma GTP(OR: 1.92) and ALT(OR: 2.08). CONCLUSION: If alcohol consumption was higher than 270 g/week, the risk of raised liver enzymes increased dramatically and gamma GTP, AST were shown more sensitive than ALT in alcoholic liver disease.

Risk factors influencing to mortality and recurrence after first cerebral infarction

BACKGROUND: Cerebral infarction is one of the common cause of death in Korea. There are many studies about risk factors of cerebral infarction in the world and Korea, and there are some studies about risk factors of mortality and recurrence after first cerebral infarction in the world, but there are no reliable epidemiologic studies about risk factors of mortality and recurrence after first cerebral infarction in Korea. So this study was designed to investigate the risk factors of mortality and recurrence after first cerebral infarction in Korea. METHODS: A cohort of 257 patients with diagnosing first cerebral infarction at our hospital were selected and followed for at least 5 years. 30 days, 1 year, 5 year cumulative mortality and recurrence was calculated. Risk factors classified at the time of first cerebral infarction, and then entered into a Cox proportional harzards model for mortality and for recurrence. RESULTS: The cumulative risk of mortality after first cerebral infarction was 13% at 30days, 21% at 1year, 49% at 5years. The cumulative risk of recurrence after first cerebral infarction was 4% at 30days, 11% at 1year, 24% at 5years. The significant risk factors of mortality after first cerebral infarction were age(> OR =65), heavy alcohol drinking history, heart failure, untreated diabetes mellitus history, untreated hypertension history, high admission Hct(> OR =50%), high admission glucose(> OR =200), atrial fibrillation at admission, under drowsy mental state at admission, embolic infarction type, high admission systolic blood pressure(> OR =160), high admission diastolic blood pressure(> OR =100). The significant risk factors of recurrence were age( OR =200). CONCLUSION: Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heavy alcohol drinking, cardiovascular disease were important factor of cerebral infarction prognosis on our study. So primary care physicians focus on these factors when treating cerebral infarction patient.

Diagnostic value of dipstick urinalysis as a screening test for urinary tract infection

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infection is one of the most common diseases in primary practice. Although quantitative urine culture is the standard for diagnosis, a rapid screening test is needed for effective management. But numerous studies in the past were controversial. We evaluated the utility of dipstick urine analysis as a screening test for urinary tract infection. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 311 patients who were admitted between May 1997, and April 1998 were chosen as subjects. Patients had a complete urine analysis, such as microscopic analysis, chemical analysis by dipstick and urine culture was performed as part of an evaluation for urinary tract infection or suspicious febrile illness. We compared dipstick analysis with microscopic examination and urine culture. The results of the dipstick urinalysis were compared with the results of the urine culture, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. RESULTS: A total of 311 cases were included in the study among which 122 cases were true positive in urine culture. For dipstick urine analysis 92 of 122 cases were leukocyte esterase positive and 39 of 122 were nitrite positive. On microscopic examination 44 of 122 cases were leukocyte positive and 40 of 122 were microorganism positive. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity of the dipstick urinalysis seems higher than the microscopic examination in urinary tract infection. We conclude that the dipstick urinalysis is a useful screening test for urinary tract infection for those above 2 years old.

An analysis of contents of inpatients in department of family medicine

No abstract available.

Clinical observations of drug intoxication

No abstract available.

A survey on the knowledge, attitude and practice of family medicinein patients admitted in Seoul Christian Hospital

No abstract available.

A survey on the knowledge, attitude and behavior about familymedicine of the people living in certain apartment, Seoul

No abstract available.