Health-Related Quality of Life using EQ-5D in Koreans / 대한류마티스학회지

OBJECTIVE: There has been no data on health related quality of life (HRQOL) in general Korean population. Assessing factors affecting HRQOL in Koreans is fundamental in HRQOL research. The objective of this study is to assess HRQOL in Korean using Korean version of EQ-5D (KEQ-5D). METHODS: HRQOL was assessed using KEQ-5D from 1,044 randomly selected population representing general Korean population with telephone interview RESULT: The mean KEQ-5D utility score in Korean was 0.88 (range: -0.59~1.00). Sociodemographic data showed relatively higher score in male, younger, well educated, higher income, and white color people. Among a variety of diseases, gastric ulcer/gastritis, arthritis, hypertension diabetes, low back pain were common in Korea. The most significant chronic diseases influencing Koreans were gastrointestinal disorder and arthritis. CONCLUSION: This paper suggests basic information on HRQOL in Korean and can be a useful parameter in comparison in the future research.

Effect of Dexamethasone and Epinephrine on Metallothionein Level in the Perfused Rat Liver

The effect of dexamethasone (10(-5)M) and epinephrine (10(-6)M) on the biosynthesis of metallothionein (MT) in the perfused rat liver was investigated. MT synthesis was determined by measuring the incorporation of 14C-L-aspartic acid into liver MT fraction after the perfusion for five hours of isolated liver by artificial blood containing 14C-L-U-aspartic acid (0.2uci) with dexamethasone or epinephrine. MT was isolated by Sephadex G-75 column chromatography and DEAE Sephadex column chromatography. Incorporation of radioactive 14C into the MT fraction of perfused liver cytosol (9.0grams of liver) from dexamethasone treated, epinephrine treated and control groups were, respective1y, 0.72, 0.34 and 0.33% of total radioactivity infused. Total protein content in the MT fraction of liver perfused with dexamethasone and epinephrine were 0.80, 0.64mg/g liver compared to 0.52mg/g liver in the control. MT, a protein having a high content of cystein and metals is synthesized in the perfused rat liver and its induction is stimulated by dexamethasone, while epinephrine increased the accumulation of Zn in the MT fraction of the perfused rat liver. The present experiment confirms that MT synthesis and degradation are somewhat regulated by glucocorticoid hormone and epinephrine.