The association between an abnormal post-voiding urine volume and a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate in patients with type 2 diabetes with no voiding symptoms

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Diabetic cystopathy is a frequent complication of diabetes mellitus. This study assessed the association between the post-voiding residual (PVR) urine volume and diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetics with no voiding symptoms. METHODS: This study investigated 42 patients with type 2 diabetes who were followed regularly at our outpatient clinic between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009. No patient had voiding problems or International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSSs) > or = 12. An urologist performed the urological evaluations and the PVR was measured using a bladder scan. A PVR > 50 mL on two consecutive voids was considered abnormal, which was the primary study outcome. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 60 +/- 10 years; the IPSS score was 3.7 +/- 3.3; and the diabetes duration was 11.9 +/- 7.8 years. Seven of the 42 patients (16.7%) had a PVR > 50 mL. The presence of overt proteinuria or microalbuminuria was associated with an increased risk of a PVR > 50 mL (p 50 mL had a significantly lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) compared with those with a PVR 50 mL. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with diabetic nephropathy had a significantly higher PVR and a lower eGFR was associated with an abnormal PVR.

Immediately transcripted genes in various hepatic ischemia models / 대한외과학회지

PURPOSE: To elucidate the characteristic gene transcription profiles among various hepatic ischemia conditions, immediately transcribed genes and the degree of ischemic injury were compared among total ischemia (TI), intermittent clamping (IC), and ischemic preconditioning (IPC). METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into control (C, sham-operated), TI (ischemia for 90 minutes), IC (ischemia for 15 minutes and reperfusion for 5 minutes, repeated six times), and IPC (ischemia for 15 minutes, reperfusion for 5 minutes, and ischemia again for 90 minutes) groups. A cDNA microarray analysis was performed using hepatic tissues obtained by partial hepatectomy after occluding hepatic inflow. RESULTS: The cDNA microarray revealed the following: interleukin (IL)-1beta expression was 2-fold greater in the TI group than in the C group. In the IC group, IL-1alpha/beta expression increased by 2.5-fold, and Na+/K+ ATPase beta1 expression decreased by 2.4-fold. In the IPC group, interferon regulatory factor-1, osteoprotegerin, and retinoblastoma-1 expression increased by approximately 2-fold compared to that in the C group, but the expression of Na+/K+ ATPase beta1 decreased 3-fold. CONCLUSION: The current findings revealed characteristic gene expression profiles under various ischemic conditions. However, additional studies are needed to clarify the mechanism of protection against IPC.

The effect of preconditioning on liver regeneration after hepatic resection in cirrhotic rats / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ischemic preconditioning (IP) decreases severity of liver necrosis and has anti-apoptotic effects in previous studies using liver regeneration in normal rats. This study assessed the effect of IP on liver regeneration after hepatic resection in cirrhotic rats. METHODS: To induce liver cirrhosis, thioacetamide (300 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally into Sprague-Dawley rats twice per week for 16 weeks. Animals were divided into four groups: non-clamping (NC), total clamping (TC), IP, and intermittent clamping (IC). Ischemic injury was induced by clamping the left portal pedicle including the portal vein and hepatic artery. Liver enzymes alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured to assess liver damage. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining for apoptosis and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) staining for cell replication were also performed. RESULTS: Day-1 ALT and AST were highest in IP, however, levels in NC and IC were comparably low on days 1-7. There was no significant correlation of AST or ALT with experimental groups (P=0.615 and P=0.186). On TUNEL, numbers of apoptotic cells at 100x magnification (cells/field) were 31.8+/-24.2 in NC, 69.0+/-72.3 in TC, 80.2+/-63.1 in IP, and 21.2+/-20.8 in IC (P<0.05). When regeneration capacity was assessed by PCNA staining, PCNA-positive cells (cells/field) at 400x were 3.4+/-6.0 in NC, 16.9+/-69 in TC, 17.0+/-7.8 in IP and 7.4+/-7.6 in IC (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although regeneration capacity in IP is higher than IC, the liver is vulnerable to ischemic damage in cirrhotic rats. Careful consideration is needed in applying IP in the clinical setting.

The development of an efficient rat hepatic cirrhosis model

INTRODUCTION: Applying clinical conditions to on experimental animals forto verifverifyingy the mechanism of disease and drug effects is crucial. Cirrhotic livers induced by Hepatitis B virus are frequent, and eEspecially in Korea where a great deal of more liver-related diseases occurs, cirrhotic livers induced by Hepatitis B virus are frequent, and, such viral-induced cirrhosis, and this often impedes other medical treatments. Therefore, creating a proper elucidating properly deriveding cirrhosis method in animal model to simulate the actual pathophysiology of cirrhosis can benefit future researches. AIMS: We wanted toTe testing various hypotheticalsized methods of inducing cirrhosis in animal models, and we wanted the model to have a with higher rate of reproducibility. METHOD: To induce cirrhotic liver, thioacetamide (Sigma, St. Louis, USA) wasis given either freely via oral intaken or it wasand injected into the peritoneal space ofn Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats. The SD rats wereare divided into four groups: the oOral intake gGroup 1 ((N=10, 0.03%, 13 weeks), the oOral intake gGroup 2 (N=20, 0.04%, 30 weeks), the iIntraperitoneal Injected gGroup 1 (N=10, 300mg/kg, 12 weeks (3 times per week for first 2 weeks, 2 times per week for next 10 weeks) and the iIntraperitoneal Injected gGroup 2 (N=20, 300mg/kg, 2 times per week for 16 weeks). The mMortality rate of the tested subjects is recorded, and a visual test of the livers is performed at the end of the experiment, a visual test of the livers is performed. Also, the extracted liver cells that were dyed with Trichrome are compared to evaluate the extent of the liver cirrhosis. RESULT: For theIn oral intake group 1, no loss of occurred until wWeek 13, and 5 of the SD rats (50%) showed signs of liver cirrhosis by the Trichrome dye test. However, the extent of cirrhosis greatly differed betweenfrom each of the subjects. ForIn the oral intakae group 2, no loss occurred until wWeek 30. 20 of the SD rat (100%) in this group possessed a cirrhotic liver. However, the weight of the cirrhoscirrhotic liversis differed from a minimum of 231g to a maximum of 770g. For theIn Injected Group 1, 4 tested subjects (40%) died between wWeeks 3 and 4; however, the rest of them survived and they all revealed a signs of cirrhosis. ForIn the iInjected Group 2, only 3 tested subjects (15%) died, and after wWeek 16, 17 survivors (100%) showed a signs of cirrhosis. CONCLUSION: The short-term oral administration of thioacetamide only induced a minimal amount of cirrhosis;, thus, a longer period of consumption is suggested. Injection of thioacetamide into the peritoneum resulted in higher death rate when thoacetamide wasis injected frequently. Therefore, selecting a proper method to create a cirrhotic liver, with considering the reproducibility, on cirrhotic liver, the survival rate of the experimental animals, and the length of the experiment, isare strongly suggested for creating an animal model of cirrhotic liverfor further experiments.

DNA Damage in Lymphocytes after Hair Dyeing and Related Factors among Women Volunteers / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the DNA damage by hair dyeing in human lymphocytes. METHODS: Comet assays were carried out to evaluate the DNA damage in lymphocytes by hair dyeing. Twenty subjects were selected from women volunteers whose age ranged from 55 to 67 year old. All subjects had no smoking history. Blood samples were collected before and 6 hours after hair dyeing. DNA damage was evaluated by means of the tail moments, which were quantified by a KOMET 4.0 image analysis system. RESUJLTS: The tail moments before hair dyeing showed no significant differences among subjects except for the high frequency group. The mean values of the tail moments in subjects with low and high frequencies of hair dyeing were 1.39 and 1.77, respectively (p<0.05). The tail moments after hair dyeing increased significantly. The mean values of tail moments in subjects before and after hair dyeing were 1.45 and 1.79, respectively (p<0.01). However, the difference levels of DNA damage in lymphocytes before and after hair dyeing were found to be slightly lower in both the dietary supplement taking group and high frequency group. CONCLUSIONS: The high frequency group appears to have a higher level of DNA damage than the low frequency group before hair dyeing. DNA damage in lymphocytes was found to be significantly higher in the volunteers after hair dyeing. In this study, the related factors such as high frequency and taking dietary supplements appeard to reduce DNA damage in lymphocytes after hair dyeing.

DNA Damage in Lymphocytes after Hair Dyeing and Related Factors among Women Volunteers / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the DNA damage by hair dyeing in human lymphocytes. METHODS: Comet assays were carried out to evaluate the DNA damage in lymphocytes by hair dyeing. Twenty subjects were selected from women volunteers whose age ranged from 55 to 67 year old. All subjects had no smoking history. Blood samples were collected before and 6 hours after hair dyeing. DNA damage was evaluated by means of the tail moments, which were quantified by a KOMET 4.0 image analysis system. RESUJLTS: The tail moments before hair dyeing showed no significant differences among subjects except for the high frequency group. The mean values of the tail moments in subjects with low and high frequencies of hair dyeing were 1.39 and 1.77, respectively (p<0.05). The tail moments after hair dyeing increased significantly. The mean values of tail moments in subjects before and after hair dyeing were 1.45 and 1.79, respectively (p<0.01). However, the difference levels of DNA damage in lymphocytes before and after hair dyeing were found to be slightly lower in both the dietary supplement taking group and high frequency group. CONCLUSIONS: The high frequency group appears to have a higher level of DNA damage than the low frequency group before hair dyeing. DNA damage in lymphocytes was found to be significantly higher in the volunteers after hair dyeing. In this study, the related factors such as high frequency and taking dietary supplements appeard to reduce DNA damage in lymphocytes after hair dyeing.

Clinical Characteristics of Female Hepatocellular Carcinoma / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma has been universally lower in female than in male. The aims of our study are to define whether there are any difference between female and male patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in terms of clinical characteristics and results of treatment. METHODS: Retrospective analyses of medical history, physical findings, laboratory results, etiological factors, characteristics of tumor, and therapeutic results were performed in 80 female patients with hepatocellular carcinoma compared to 160 male patients. RESULTS: Asymptomatic presentation and family history of liver disease were found more frequently in female patients than in male patients. A history of smoking and alcohol drinking were found less frequently in female patients than in male patients. The detection rate of spider angioma was significantly lower in female patients than in male patients. There was no difference in laboratory results, characteristics of tumor, and therapeutic results between female and male patients. CONCLUSIONS: Environmental factors such as smoking and alcohol drinking could contribute the sexual difference of hepatocarcinogenesis. However, clinical characteristics at the time of diagnosis and therapeutic results were not significantly different between female and male patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Oxygen free Radical Reactions by Various Partial Pressure of Oxygen in Rats intoxicated with Carbon Monoxide

Experiments, using CO intoxicated male Sprague-Dawley rats, were carried out (1) to see the change of the oxygen tree radical reaction according to partial pressure of oxygen, and (2) to assess the effectiveness of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA), and ethane as a parameter of the reaction. Ethane was measured in exhaled breath anti SOD activity and MDA In brain tissue. Experimental group consist of (1) Control group (=breathing with air[ambient air]), (2) HBO group (=exposed to hyperbaric oxygen(HBO, 3ATA, l00%] after all breath), (3) CO-Air group (=exposed to CO [3,970 ppm] after air breath followed by air breath), (4) CO-HBO group (=exposed to CO after air breath followed by HBO treatment), and (5) CO group (=exposed to CO after air breath, only for SOD activity & MDA measuring). Amount of ethane exhaled during 30 minutes of HBO treatment after GO exposure was significantly greater than those of all the other groups (p-value= .002) , suggesting more oxygen free radical reaction is taken place in CO intoxicated rats treated with higher partial pressure of oxygen. The long-term follow-up studies are required to differentiate the adverse effects of HBO treatment from the sequelae of CO poisoning itself, and to develop the preventive measures for the adverse effect of HBO treatment. And there was no significnat difference among the five groups in SOD activity and MDA measuring (p-value>.05). This result may be accounted for the rapid recovery of SOD activity and the metabolic degradation and excretion of MDA in a short time. In conclusion, measurement of ethane in exhaled breath is more effective than those of SOD activity and MDA as a parameter to assess the oxygen free radical reaction produced by HBO treatment for CO poisoned rats as a whole

Protective Effects of the NMDA-receptor Antagonist (MK-801) for the Brain Injury by Oxygen Free Radical: In the Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment of CO Poisoned Rat / 대한산업의학회지

The effects of NMDA-receptor antagonist (MK-801) were assessed for the oxygen free radical mediated brain (hippocampus) injury with eighty rats which were exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) followed by hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were used as parameters of the oxygen free radical reaction. Experimental groups consisted of (1) control group (=breathing with air), (2) CO group (=exposed to CO after air breath), (3) CO-air group(exposed to CO after air breath followed by air breath), and (4) CO-HBO group (=exposed to CO after air breath followed by 3 ATA HBO). Each group was divided two subgroup according to the pretreatment (normal saline or MK-801). CO, CO-air and HBO groups increased in SOD activity as compared with control group. And CO-air and HBO groups increased in MDA as compared with control and CO group. Pretreatment of MK-801 decreased SOD activities significantly (p-value<.05) , but MDA amount not significantly (p-value=.107). These results suggest a useful protective effect of NMDA-receptor antagonist (MK-801) in CO induced hippocampal injury mediated by oxygen free radicals.

Standardization for Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry / 대한내과학회지

OBJECTIVES: Bone densitometry is a current method for evaluating skeletal status, assessing osteoporosis, and determining fracture risk. DEXA has rapidly become a dominent method for evaluating skeletal status. But the comparison of patient data among different DEXA scanners is complicated because the instruments show differences in scanner design, bone mineral calibration, and analysis algorithms. The purpose of this study is making standardization of DEXA and comparability among different DEXA system. METHODS: Posteroanterior lumbar spine (L2-IA) measurements of healthy 83 racially homogenous Korean women, age 38-66 years (mean +/- 516, range of BMD 0.624-1.574g/cm) were obtained on a Lunar DPX-L, a Hologic QDR-2000, and a Norland XR-36. All sujects had no spinal deformities, ostophytes, fracture and scoliosis on thoracolumbar spinal X-ray. We performed the measurement of BMD in each subjects with different three scanners at the same time. RESULTS: The results of cross-calibration spinal BMD (L2-4, g/cm2) in patient study (r2=0.972-0.974); Lunar DPX-L=(1.149 X Hologic)+0.008=(1.022 X Norland)+0.137, Hologic QDR-2000=(0.847 X Lunar)+0.019= (0.876 X Norland)+0.124, and Norland XR-36=(0.954 X Lunar)-0.107=1.110 X Hologic)-0.113. The average absolute difference in patients` spinal BMD values (L2-L4) between Lunar and Hologic was 0.146g/cm2 (14%); it was 0.156g/cm2 (15%) between Lunar and Norland and 0.010g/cm2 (1%) between Hologic and Norland. CONCLUSIONS: The formula of this cross-calibration shows good correlation. We conclude that it is possible to compare the different spinal BMD values obtained on the different DEXA scanners.