Serum Fat Soluble Vitamins in Bile Duct Ligated Rats / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: The aims of this study are to measure the serum levels of fat soluble vitamins (vitamin A and D) from bile duct ligated rats, and to evaluate the effect of oral bile acids administration to facilitate absorption of fat soluble vitamins. METHOD: We measured serum ALT, total bilirubin, vitamin A, and vitamin D of Sprague-Dawley rats 1 week before and 4 weeks after experimental bile duct ligation. Rats were consisted with 3 groups. Group 2 had been find bile acids and group 3 ursodeoxycholic acid after operation for 4 weeks. Multi-vitamin was given to all groups. RESULTS: 1) Base line (mean value before duct ligation): ALT 74.2 IU, total bilirubin 0.26 mg/dL; vitamin D 13.01 ng/mL vitamin A 0.87 microgram/mL, total bile acids 25.16 micron mol/L. 2) Four weeks after ligation: ALT 100.7 IU, total bilirubin 2.58 mg/dL; vitamin D 7.89 ng/mL vitamin A 1.37 microgram/mL, total bile acids 278.22 micron mol/L. 3) 4 weeks after ligation, each group (group 1, group 2 and group 3) showed vitamin D (7.62, 8.10 and 7.99) ng/mL, vitamin A (1.68, 1.06 and 1.33) microgram/mL, total bile acids (233.17, 345.80 and 268.57) micron mol/L, which were statistically not significant. CONCLUSION: Serum level of vitamin A is increased after bile duct ligation although vitamin D is decreased. Oral administration of bile acids does not affect the serum levels of vitamin A and D in bile duct ligated rats.

Study of the Analgesic Effect of Sucrose and Non-sucrose Sweet Substances(Aspartam, Dextrose) in Full Term Neonates

PURPOSE: During the first days of life, neonates born in Korean hospitals typically encounter a number of stressful and painful events. In recent investigations, it was shown that there is a dose-response effect of increasing concentration of sucrose, resulting in reduction in crying time in healthy full-term infants. We assessed the use of sucrose to reduce pain in neonates with routine blood sampling by heel prick and the use of non-sucrose sweet substances(Aspartam), Dexrtose which we use to reduce pain in neonates with the same procedure. METHODS: A total of 135 neonates born in the KonKuk University Hospital were randomly assigned to 9 experimental groups. 2ml of the test solution was given by syringe into the infant's mouth over less than one minute. After 2 minutes, the nurse lanced the infants heel immediately and gently squeezed two times, and then a bandage was applied to the wound and the foot released. Crying during sampling and during the three minutes after sampling(recovery phase) was recorded on audio tape and later the duration of crying was analysed blindly. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in total crying time as compared with the controls. There was a significant reduction in first crying time as compared with the controls. There was a significant reduction in crying time at the end of each minute in all the groups as compared with the controls. There was no significant difference in heart rate and oxygen saturation. CONCLUSION: We conclude that sucrose, aspartam and dextrose induce an effective analgesic effect in neonates.

Three-Dimensional Morphometric Analysis of Segmental Glomerulosclerosis in the Rat Remnant Kidney Model / 대한신장학회잡지

In the previous study, serial section analysis in the Adriamycin animal model of progressive glomerulosclerosis, diffuse, rather than focal glomerulosclerosis were reported. However, the study in patients with nephrotic syndrome and idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis by three-dimensional analysis demonstrated a focal pattern of sclerosis. The distribution of lesions, whether focal or diffuse, has important implications, not only for pathogenesis and potential therapeutic response, but also for relevance of animal studies to human disease. We therefore evaluated the distribution of segmental glomerulosclerosis in the rat remnant kidney model. We used male M nich-Wistar rats weighing 250 grams at the start of the experiments. Ten rats had 1-1/2 nephrectomy. At the 24th week after the surgical procedure, GFR and arterial BP were measured. Renal tissues were then perfused with 1% glutaraldehyde at physiologic pressures. Sixty serial sections(4 micrometer thick) per a rat were stained with PAS. An average of 19.2+2.4 glomeruli was examined. Sclerosis assessed on a single section involved 32.6+11.4%. After the serial section analysis, the percent of glomeruli involved by sclerosis increased to 57.6+15.0%. Our results show that single section examination of kidney tissue underestimates glomerulosclerosis in the renal ablation model. However, much more intact glomeruli were present in the renal ablation model compared to Adriamycin rat model after serial section analysis. This finding may reflect the different pathogenic mechanism between the two animal models.

Effect of Oral Administration of Cholestylamine with Phototherapy in the Treatment of Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia

PURPOSE: Cholestylamine has been shown to release chloride ion and absorbs bile acid in the intestine, forming a nonabsorbable complex preventing enterohepatic circulation. The purpose of this study is to clarify the value of cholestylamine and the adequate dosage, in combination with phototherapy, as well as to confirm whether it shorten the duration of hospitalization. METHODS: Total 80 full-term neonates with a total bilirubin level greater than 12mg/dL were studied. The neonates were randomly divided into four groups : (1) Only phototherapy group (A)(2) 250mg/kg/day cholestylamine with phototherapy group (B)(3) 500mg/kg/day cholestylamine with phototherapy group (C)(4) 1000mg/kg/day cholestylamine with phototherapy group (D). RESULTS: Forty-eight hours, 72 hours and 96 hours after the beginning of the study, the mean bilirubin level among the B, C, D groups significantly diminished than A group (P<0.05). The duration of phototherapy and hospitalization significantly diminished in the D group. After phototherapy, finished mean bilirubin level was markedly diminished in the D group. CONCLUSION: The data revealed that oral administration of cholestylamine (especially 1000mg/kg/ day cholestylamine with phototherapy group : D) not only increased the efficacy of phototherapy, but also shortened the duration of phototherapy.